International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust

Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to ask you to stand with me as we observe a minute of silence in honour of the victims of the Holocaust.

Thank you.

Monsieur le Représentant permanent d’Israël,
Monsieur le Représentant permanent de la Suisse,
Madame Frydman,
Mesdames et Messieurs les Ambassadeurs,
Mesdames et messieurs,

Nous sommes réunis ce soir pour nous souvenir des millions de victimes de l'Holocauste, pour saluer le courage des survivants, pour rendre hommage à ceux qui ont tout risqué pour sauver des vies, et pour réfléchir à notre responsabilité partagée afin d’éviter que de telles tragédies ne se reproduisent. Je remercie les Représentants permanents d’Israël et de la Suisse pour l’organisation conjointe de cet évènement solennel ainsi que le Canton de Genève pour l’important soutien qu’il a apporté à cette commémoration.

Comme nous le verrons lors de la présentation de “La troisième nuit de Walpurgis”, les signes annonciateurs de l’horreur étaient évidents. Pourtant, des mesures fortes qui auraient pu empêcher cette tragédie sont arrivées trop tard.

The Holocaust culminated in the systematic and barbaric murder of Jews and countless members of other minorities in the Nazi death camps. But it began with individual acts of discrimination. Abuse accumulated, nurtured by collective indifference. It was through indifference that intolerance turned to inhumanity. Silence was the accomplice of evil.

As we heard in the Secretary-General’s message, we dedicate our commemoration this year to those who stood up, those who spoke out, those who risked and sometimes sacrificed their lives to help neighbours and often strangers they had never met, all those who followed their conscience, translating their compassion and their sense of right and wrong into courageous acts of assistance.

They all refused the path of indifference. They were ordinary women and men – of all backgrounds and from all walks of life – who achieved the extraordinary by denying hate and bigotry. Each and every one of them embodies our common humanity. We are inspired and humbled by their example. And, we ask ourselves whether we would have the strength of character to do the same. We hope that we would.

We are privileged to have with us Ms. Régine Frydman who will share with us her story. Her personal memories, and the memories of all survivors, are our common heritage. It is our obligation to ensure that these stories continue to be told, also when survivors are no longer able to do so themselves. The passage of time cannot be allowed to make the memories fade or the universal lessons weaken. Awareness of the past is our call to action for the future.

That is why continued education about the Holocaust is critical. At the United Nations Office at Geneva, we have made outreach on the Holocaust a central component in our engagement with schools and universities, to sensitize new generations to our collective and individual responsibility.

Today, we pledge to reject injustice and indignity, to defy ideologies of hate, to confront violations of human rights, and to defend the value of diversity.

This is the only way to honour the victims.

Thank you very much for your attention and for attending this very important event.