Today marks the liberation of Auschwitz. Today marks a moment in our year to commemorate the children and mothers, fathers and brothers, sisters and grandparents whose lives were ended in an act of evil that echoes throughout history. It marks a moment for us to honour and remember those millions of murdered human beings, and those whose lives have been changed in far-reaching ways by the Holocaust.
On this day we honour the loss of victims and the resilience of survivors, with renewed recognition of the value and the dignity of each person. Let us take this time to consider the responsibility placed on our shoulders.
We must, in the witness of our lives, ensure that the memory of these atrocities is remembered. We must make sure that its ethical lessons are learnt anew by each generation.
We must respond with courage and resolve, to ensure that the seeds of that hatred, which grew into such evil, are never allowed to take root in our societies again. We must protect the persecuted. We must speak out against bigotry and hatred. We must remember, and in remembering, we must be transformed.
Genocide does not just take place in isolation. It is part of a steady process that begins where discrimination, racism, xenophobia and hatred are allowed to grow. The Holocaust and subsequent genocides took place because of an insidious silence that allowed persecution to build momentum. While some were actively engaged in facilitating state policies of persecution, the vast majority stood idle – afraid to speak out, indifferent to the suffering of others. And discrimination has not ended, nor have we heard the last of the language of hatred and exclusion.
We often fail to stop these tragedies in time. Circumstances and historical particularities can do much to hide the underlying framework that initiates, supports, and develops violence in our societies.
International Holocaust Memorial Day is more important and relevant than ever. It enables us to rally together, to recognise the workings of wickedness, to exercise vigilance, and remind us of the need to replace strategies of exclusion with processes of peace.
I now wish to address some remarks to the young people assembled here today. You are our symbol of hope. It is your task to continue this great duty, to remember, to be watchful, to ensure that there will never be, in Europe or anywhere else in the world, another Auschwitz.
You are the active citizens of today and tomorrow, with the great responsibility to interrupt cycles of hatred and violence and to replace them with a message of peace and wellbeing.
Do not stand by. Do not be silent. Be better than we have been!
I put my trust in you. Do not forget the past! Use education as your tool against ignorance and prejudice. Use your knowledge as a shield from the lies of extremists and opportunists. Make your own lives the promise of a better world.
As European citizens we are all responsible, both politicians and civil society, to make Europe an example of this better world; a reality where each citizen can contribute to the strengthening of fundamental human rights, the safeguarding of our natural world, and the mission of dialogue between cultures and between peoples.
My Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society works tirelessly to ensure that bridges between communities are built, that the damage of violence is addressed, and that meaningful conversations can take place in a spirit of respect and dignity. Our work is challenging, but it is vital. We hope that you shall join us in our endeavours, working together towards one common goal.
Today we are united in commemoration of all the victims of the Holocaust.
Today we pledge to hold sacred in our memory the lives that were lost. And let today also offer us a promise to be resolute in our duty, and strive to achieve the peaceful transformation of our world.
Thank you.