Agenda item

Item three was introduced by Claudia Hyde, Local Government Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) Officer. 

Claudia stated that Holocaust Memorial Day takes place each year on 27 January, building on the objective that prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by everyone, and to offer a day of remembrance to commemorate the six million Jews and others killed in atrocities after World War Two.  According to HMD, 64 per cent of people in a recent survey did not know how many Jews were killed during the Holocaust, and there is a rising belief the Holocaust is a conspiracy theory.  The day was first marked in UK in 2001. HMD 2020 will have particular significance as it marks both the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and is the 25th anniversary of the Genocide in Bosnia.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) – a charity set up by Government to promote HMD and support other organisations to mark it – was attending the Board’s meeting to provide an update on their work and explore how they can assist councils planning 2020 events.  Claudia stated the Trust encourages people to learn the lessons of the past to build a safer future free from genocide and discrimination.

Claudia notified members that the 2020 theme will be ‘Stand Together’ – standing against discrimination, which can lead to genocide. In 2019 the HMD had 10,500 activities in which 200 councils and 800 libraries took part. There was a range of activities to cater to different audiences.  The HMDT believe the work ties in with broader local government work over challenging prejudice views – according to in-house surveys, people who take part in HMD activities were more likely to feel sympathetic to people from different backgrounds as a result of attending a HMD event.

Claudia concluded it is crucial in the currently context to promote cohesion against rising hate crime figures.  HMDT wants to engage with councils in order to bring people together; the Trust has a range of resources for councils and good examples of activities undertaken on their website.

In the discussions that followed, members raised the following points:

Members agreed that it is very important that we commemorate the HMD, but questioned what could be done over communities becoming more cynical, buying into conspiracy theories, and spreading disinformation via social media?  How are council leaders and schools going to properly inform and education people regarding these atrocities; members agreed that it is vital to target young people.  In response to this, Claudia stated that there is an array of information and tools on the HMDT website tailored towards schools and young people.

Members questioned if the Trust meets any resistance to their messages, and how this is addressed?  Claudia responded:

-       That most communities HMDT work with are very receptive to their work.  However, in some communities where there is a lack of Jewish representation people questioned HMD’s relevance to them.  The Trust always responds to this by stating these messages are universal.

-       Another challenge isn’t around denial, but trivialisation; for example, questions are raised over why other atrocities are not commemorated. The Trust’s response is marking HMD does not come at the expense of commemorating anything else, and these events need to be remembered and people educated about them.

Members questioned how councils could be encouraged to help mark HMD, and asked if there was any funding available to mark it. Claudia responded that unfortunately, the HMDT does not undertake grant funding, but can help with content such as music and education.  The HMD have numerous ideas of impactful ways of marking the day without money – these include large posters and life stories displayed in public buildings. Members also noted the important role they could play in helping others, like inter-faith groups mark HMD. 

Members agreed that the Board would highlight the importance to councils of being involved in marking HMD, and members would promote this within their own councils.  Members also asked what the LGA would do to commemorate HMD.

Decisions

1.    Board members noted the input from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

2.    Details of the resources available from the HMDT to be circulated to councils and councils encouraged to mark HMD.

3.    The LGA to consider how it could mark HMD.