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Press Information published by the International Auschwitz Committee

30.08.2017

The General Meeting of the International Auschwitz Committee – the United Nations Secretary General thanks the survivors

 
 
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In Oswiecim, Poland, the 15th General Meeting of the International Auschwitz Committee has begun not far from the gate of the former German concentration and extermination camp. Survivors from the camp, their relatives and delegates from Auschwitz foundations in sixteen countries have travelled here to attend the meeting. Messages were sent by the Presidents of Poland, Germany and Austria, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, thanking the survivors as witnesses of the times for their continuing dedicated engagement in conversations with young people.

The Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guteres wrote in his personal greetings:
"Through your work you give courage to everyone who is oppressed today, and time and again your voices help to expose anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination. You protect those who are vulnerable today, you defend the democratic institutions, and you call upon the world to be alert to genocide and other crimes."

In his speech to the delegates and guests, the President of the Committee, the Jewish Auschwitz survivor Roman Kent from New York said:
"We, as survivors from Auschwitz, have always seen ourselves as seismographs of democracy, who register very quickly and very precisely when and where our democracies are threatened, and when and where hate and anti-Semitism are taking to the streets again."

While delivering his report to the gathering of around 120 delegates and guests, the Committee’s Executive Vice President, Christoph Heubner, warned:
"The hatred has returned. Auschwitz didn’t begin in Auschwitz. Auschwitz began with the hatred on the streets. It began with the hostility and hatred towards Jews, with aggressive contempt and the destruction of democracy. This is being made clear to us by the images that are reaching us day by day, not only from Charlottesville. At this time, the survivors are deeply concerned, and they are asking themselves whether there is enough vigilance and outrage towards the attacks on democracy, or whether indifference towards hatred will gain the upper hand yet again. It is for this reason that the exchanges with young people throughout the world are especially important."

 
 
 

For further Information

Christoph Heubner

Executive Vice President
International Auschwitz Committee
Phone ++ 49 (0)30 26 39 26 81