This week, Emma Reynolds, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East and Shadow Housing Minister, has signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment.By signing the book, Emma made a commitment to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and honour those who were brutally murdered during the Holocaust.

The Book of Commitment is one of the centrepieces of the Trust’s commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday 27th January. This marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder in history.

In the weeks leading up to and after Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

After signing the Book of Commitment, Emma said: “Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet Red Army. It is such an important opportunity to remember the victims and survivors of the horror of the Holocaust and make sure they are not forgotten. In particular, I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to explain to young people their horrific experiences.

“The 70 year anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau is an especially significant anniversary for me as it comes in the same year as the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, during which my grandfather fought for his country and against the murderous ideology of the Nazis who carried out the atrocities of the Holocaust. I am very proud of the role that he played in fighting against them.

“Marking Holocaust Memorial Day is crucial to the continuing fight against prejudice and intolerance.”

January 2015