Holocaust Memorial Day Trust gears up for historic 80th anniversary in January

Laura Marks CBE speaks at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust fundraising tea at a private residence (Credit: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust)[Missing Credit]

Smajo Beso OBE, survivor of the Bosnian genocide, spoke about his experiences and the importance of understanding the dangers of prejudice and violence in our own time. He said: “As the Holocaust moves further into history, there is a danger that people begin to believe that its relevance is also fading. Nothing could be further from the truth: my experience from Bosnia shows, the patterns of dehumanisation and division that led to the murders of six million Jews, Romani and others are still present in our world, and without eternal vigilance we are always at risk of repeating the catastrophe of the 1940s and 90s.”

Smajo Beso OBE (Credit: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust)[Missing Credit]

HMDT chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman said: “It was truly heart-warming to see survivors and supporters of HMDT come together for an afternoon of tea ahead of next year’s significant anniversary. Lady Lipworth was a most amazing host and sharing the impact of Holocaust Memorial Day in such a beautiful setting was truly wonderful. As we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia, it is more crucial than ever to remember and learn from the past to build a better future.”

The event culminated in a fundraising appeal to support HMDT’s efforts leading up to January.