‘absolutely no place for bigotry and prejudice in Scotland’ – DFM John Swinney
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has warned of the dangers of denying fundamental human freedoms and allowing bigotry and intolerance to flourish. Mr Swinney’s comments came at Scotland’s national event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, at Bishopbriggs Academy.
Speaking ahead of the commemoration, the Deputy First Minister said: “Eleven million lives were extinguished during the Holocaust, the equivalent of twice the population of Scotland. Since then human rights have been denied and atrocities have been committed in places across the world, including Rwanda, Srebrenica and Darfur.
“Such tragedies are the consequence of the denial of basic human rights and freedoms. We must never forget the Holocaust as an example of what human beings can do when fundamental human rights are abandoned, and bigotry and intolerance are allowed to flourish.
“There is absolutely no place for bigotry and prejudice in Scotland and the Scottish Government is committed to doing all that we can to prevent and eradicate hate crime and intolerance.
“Later this year, I intend to accompany a school visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau through the Lessons from Auschwitz Project. It is only through learning the lessons of the past that we can create a future in which all our communities can prosper together in peace.”
Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, reflects that it is important to remember and educate future generations on the Holocaust’s causes.
He said: “Today we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, the date to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. This year’s theme, ‘how can life go on?’, encourages us to pause and reflect, not only on the terrible truth of the Holocaust, and the innocent lives that were so cruelly wiped out, but to also to draw inspiration from the survivors, who found strength and courage to carry on.
“It is important that survivor stories are heard. And as time goes by, it becomes ever more important that we listen, learn, remember, and educate future generations about the causes of the Holocaust, in particular antisemitism. Sadly, this remains an ever-present concern today. We will continue to tackle it head on wherever it is found and stand with our Jewish friends and neighbours around the world in defence of their right to live free from hatred and prejudice.
“The UK Government is committed to strengthening international collaboration to promote Holocaust education, remembrance and research. We will continue to honour this commitment, not only through our work with international partners, but also with civil society organisations who are dedicated to these efforts. Together we can put the lessons into practice and so educate the next generation that anti-semitic prejudice is consigned to the past.”
- Trauma and coming to terms with the past: The theme will ask audiences to consider how individuals and nations who have survived the horrors of genocide can begin to come to terms with the trauma and their past.
- Displacement and refugees: Times of genocide are always times of acute social upheaval; tens of thousands, sometimes millions, of people are forced from or flee their homes. The question of how life can go on is bound up with where it goes on.
- Justice: Some claim there is no such thing as justice after genocide. The theme will encourage thinking about what the concept of justice means and who gets to decide what form it takes.
- Rebuilding communities: Genocide destroys and divides communities. The theme will challenge people to think about how communities can rebuild when whole sections are missing or when survivors and perpetrators live side-by-side
- Reconciliation and forgiveness: Is true reconciliation and forgiveness possible or even desirable? The theme will explore attitudes towards forgiveness.
- Remembering: The theme asks the questions: Why is remembering important to helping life go on? How do we remember when there is nobody left to tell the story?
- Facing hate – denial and trivialisation: Denial is the final stage of genocide. The theme will call on everybody to fight denial and ask the question of how life can go on after the Holocaust and genocide whilst denial and trivialisation exist.
- Facing hate – today: Antisemitism and other forms of hate continue today. The theme will help people to consider individual, organisational, community and governmental responsibilities for protecting the rights of marginalised communities.
- Teach us about living: Everyone will be asked the question: ‘what can you do to help those who have survived genocide, as well as all those from persecuted groups ensure that life goes on?’
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