The 27th January is Holocaust Memorial day and John Mann has pledged his commitment to the event by signing a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons to honour those who perished in the Holocaust.

This year the day marks the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau and John wishes to remember those who were persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust.

John Mann used the opportunity to pay tribute to those remarkable individuals who survived the appalling events of the Holocaust and to those who have since dedicated their lives to educating younger generations about the dangers of allowing persecution and intolerance to take hold in society. Mann said "Holocaust Survivors are extraordinary people. We have a duty to them to pass on the lessons of the Holocaust to future generations. Holocaust Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of Holocaust Survivors, to commemorate the millions who died under Hitler's regime and to commit to a future free from racism and discrimination."

On and around Holocaust Memorial Day, schools, local communities and faith groups from across the UK will join together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Thousands of events are being held across the country to commemorate all those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides. The aim of the day is to motivate people - individually and collectively, to ensure that the horrendous crimes, racism and victimisation committed during the Holocaust and subsequent genocides are neither forgotten nor repeated. This year is the ninth year that Holocaust Memorial Day has been commemorated in the UK.

Karen Pollock who is the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said "We are delighted that John Mann is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day. Remembering and learning about the Holocaust is more important now than ever before. This year's theme, ‘The Legacy of Hope' highlights the important role young people have to play in taking the Survivors' mantle forward and educating their peers about the Holocaust".

25 January 2010