Birmingham held its annual Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration at the Council House on Monday, 26 January. The event, led by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, is free and open to all, beginning at 11am.
This year’s theme, “Bridging Generations”, highlights the shared responsibility to remember the past, honour survivors’ stories, and carry the lessons of history into the future. The day commemorates victims of the Holocaust and other genocides worldwide, including those in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, and Darfur, while marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The programme included a candle-lighting ceremony and personal testimonies from Mindu Hornick MBE and Nyathesis and Rebecca Kwawang, exploring the generational experiences of genocide survivors and their families. Music and poetry performances will also feature.
Councillor Iqbal said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity for us to come together, reflect on the past, and apply its lessons in promoting a more inclusive future. I hope as many people as possible will join us at the Council House on 26 January in this act of remembrance.”
Across the UK, people were encouraged to take part in the national Light the Darkness moment on 27 January by safely lighting a candle in their window at 8pm, marking a collective tribute to victims of atrocities past and present.
