Commemorating Holocaust victims in Hanoi

Attending the event were: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Vietnam Meirav Eilon Shahar, Chief Representative of the United Nations Office in Vietnam Kamal Malhota, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh, along with representatives of a number of agencies, diplomatic agencies, international organizations and more than 200 staff and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Chief Representative of the United Nations Office in Vietnam Kamal Malhota speaks at the ceremony (Photo: KL)

In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 60/7 deciding to make January 27 every year a day of remembrance for the victims, including up to 6 million Jews, murdered by Nazi Germany.

In his opening speech at the ceremony, the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh, emphasized: The Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly is important in commemorating the victims of fascism, and at the same time has the meaning of educating future generations. More than any other country in the world, Vietnam has experienced many wars that have claimed the lives of millions of people.

Emphasizing the significance of this event, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh said that as a leading university in Vietnam in the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities, the lecturers and students of the University are honored and proud to organize this event, in line with the University's slogan "Cherish the past, hold the future". The fact that this event is held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is of special significance, to remind the future generations of the country of the brutality of genocide and therefore must be responsible so that this crime will never be repeated again.

At the Memorial Ceremony, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Vietnam Meirav Eilon Shahar said: In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly decided to choose January 27 of each year as the international day to commemorate the Holocaust. This day was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi murder camp. It has become an annual activity, the Embassy of Israel in Vietnam in coordination with the United Nations Office in Vietnam and relevant agencies and a number of universities in Vietnam organize the Holocaust Memorial Day.

At the ceremony, Chief Representative of the United Nations Office in Vietnam Kamal Malhota sent the United Nations' message on this year's Holocaust Remembrance Day and together with the delegates attending the ceremony, observed a minute of silence in memory of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

On this occasion, the Israeli Embassy also screened a short film with the theme "Final Victory", to help students better understand the Holocaust...