International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025: Know the date, history, theme, significance

 

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust: Also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is an international observance, marked every year in remembrance of Jews and millions of others massacred during the Holocaust.

This day commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp in 1945, which brought an end to World War II.

It is a reminder of what happened in the Holocaust and a call to fight hatred, intolerance, and discrimination; simultaneously, it also encourages tolerance and human rights across the world.

As we mark the day today, here is all you need to know about the day.

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust 2025: Date, History, and Theme

The International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust will be commemorated on Monday, January 27, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945.

This year, it will be marked under the theme, Holocaust remembrance and education for dignity and human rights,” which highlights the significance of remembering the Holocaust in today’s world, where dignity and human rights are constantly being threatened.

 Rail tracks leading into Auschwitz. The photo was taken by Stanisław Mucha after the liberation of the concentration camp in February/March 1945. (Wikimedia Commons)

In 2005, the United Nations passed a resolution to observe the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945, which enabled the ending of World War II.

Highlighting the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust, this day honours the victims and encourages education regarding the genocide to avoid future instances of hatred and intolerance.

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust 2025: Significance and Celebrations

The International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust holds profound significance as it serves to honour the memory of over a million Jews and other victims who passed during one of the most devastating genocides in history.

Nations worldwide reaffirm their dedication to promoting human rights, fostering tolerance, and protecting minority groups, striving to avert future atrocities.

This commitment is exemplified through public readings of survivor testimonies and hearings involving historians and educators, all aimed at preserving the memory of victims while prioritizing the principles of tolerance and human rights in global discourse.

Furthermore, candlelight vigils and wreath-laying ceremonies at Holocaust memorials serve as crucial tributes to those who suffered, ensuring their legacies endure in the collective consciousness.