Czechia marks Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Czech Republic marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a ceremony at the Senate and events across the country. The day marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27.

A commemorative gathering at the Senate featured speeches by Senate President Miloš Vystrčil, Holocaust survivor Pavel Jelínek, Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs Lucie Fuková and Michal Klíma, head of the board of trustees of the Foundation for Holocaust Victims, alongside a concert and an accompanying exhibition.

According to Vystrčil, the Holocaust led to the creation of a world based on rules designed to reduce the risk of further wars and genocides - the risk of the strong attacking the weak. He added that it is everyone’s responsibility to help ensure that these rules are upheld in today’s world.

The Bubny Memory and Dialogue Centre will stage a projection on the façade of the Mama Shelter Hotel in Veletržní Street in Prague as part of the global #WeRemember campaign. From 5pm to 10pm, quotes from survivors and photographs by Karel Cudlín will be shown at the former assembly point for Jews deported during the Second World War.

Further events are planned in cities including Liberec and Mladá Boleslav.