Memorial and film screening on Holocaust Remembrance Day

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, delivered the opening speech.

Also attending the program were Mr. Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam; Ms. Meirav Eilson Shahar, Ambassador of Israel to Vietnam; representatives from the Embassies of the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Philippines, Canada, Belgium, Mexico, Hungary, Brazil, etc. and nearly 400 students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.

More than 70 years after the fall of the Nazi empire, memories of the Holocaust have paradoxically changed. Museums, memorials, and lectures are ubiquitous, and the Holocaust is frequently mentioned in the media. Yet there are many misconceptions about the Holocaust. Many Europeans, despite living in the places where the Holocaust occurred, know little about its origins and consequences. This lack of understanding of the Holocaust has led to a number of negative consequences. When we do not understand an event, it is easy to simplify it, misuse it, distort it, or even deny it.

Ms. Meirav Eilson Shahar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Vietnam is speaking.

The Holocaust served as a warning to humanity. However, that warning was not enough to prevent the genocides and genocidal massacres that have occurred over the past 70 years. For some, the Holocaust is not a warning but a model to follow. As a result, millions of people continue to be victims of genocide in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and most recently Darfur.

Because of that, today's event is a way for us to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, and also provide basic information about the Holocaust to Vietnamese students.

Ignorance can be erased by knowledge, and only knowledge can bring wisdom to people. When equipped with sufficient knowledge, young people will know how to cherish the memories of the past, take responsibility for the crimes and prevent genocide, ethnic cleansing and acts of terrorism from happening in the future.

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU emphasized: The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU is one of the leading training centers in the country in the field of social sciences and humanities, many great leaders of Vietnam have grown up from this school. Organizing a memorial service and screening the film for the school's students is a very meaningful and practical activity. It not only helps young people better understand an important historical event but also partly affects the perceptions and changes of students in the future.

Mr. Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, is presenting the message of the UN Secretary-General on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust.

Mr. Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, brought the message of the UN Secretary-General on the occasion of the international commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust to all the delegates and students in the hall.

"Today we pay tribute to the victims of the Nazi genocide. This was a tragedy without parallel in the history of humanity. The world has a duty to remember that the Holocaust was a systematic campaign of extermination against the Jews and against all other peoples. It would be wrong to think that the Holocaust was the result of the madness of a group of Nazi criminals. On the contrary, the Holocaust was the culmination of millennia of hatred, the shooting of Jews and the discrimination against them (or what we now call anti-Semitism). Tragically, and despite our resolve, anti-Semitism continues to grow. We are also saddened and concerned by the rise of extremism, xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia. The irrational and the unacceptable are back. This is completely contrary to the universality of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We can never be silent or indifferent when people are suffering. We must always protect the vulnerable and bring the bad guys to justice. As the theme of this year's Holocaust Remembrance Day highlights, "A better future depends on education". After the horrors of the 20th century, the 21st century has no place for unacceptable crimes. I assure you that, as Secretary-General of the United Nations, I will be a leading force in the fight against anti-Semitism and all other forms of hatred. Let us join hands to build a future of dignity and equality for all and honour the victims of the Holocaust, who we must never forget."

After Mr. Kamal Malhotra's speech, all ambassadors, delegates and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities observed a minute of silence for the victims of the Holocaust.

At the end of the program, the students watched a short film with the theme"Final Victory", to better understand the Holocaust.