Neil Parish MP meets survivors of genocide at launch of theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2014

Neil Parish MP met Holocaust survivor Agnes Grunwald-Spier at the launch event for Holocaust Memorial Day 2014.

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is commemorated each year on 27 January – the liberation of the Auschwitz death and concentration camp. HMD provides an opportunity for everyone to learn lessons from the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides (in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur) and apply them to the present day to create a safer, better future.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust promotes and supports HMD activities in the UK. Each year HMDT selects a theme around which HMD activities can focus. The theme for 2014 is Journeys.

Neil spoke to Agnes about her journey to the UK. Agnes was a newborn baby when she and her mother were saved from deportation to the Auschwitz death camp by an unknown official. They were sent instead to the Budapest Ghetto where they survived until liberation.

Neil said: "Agnes’s story is a reminder of the importance of commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day – a day where we share the memory of the millions who were affected by the Holocaust and other genocides. I want to encourage as many people as possible in Tiverton and Honiton to mark HMD on 27 January 2014."

Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said: "We were delighted that Neil showed his support for Holocaust Memorial Day. We hope that many more people in Tiverton and Honiton will organise events for next year’s HMD – adding to the over 2,000 activities which took place for HMD 2013."