Switzerland commemorates the victims of the Holocaust

Six million European Jews, along with many Roma, Sinti and other minorities were killed by the National Socialist regime during the Second World War. Commemorating 27 January raises awareness of this tragedy and reminds us to remain vigilant, for even today racism, discrimination and anti-Semitism are an all too common reality.

In Auschwitz, the site of the largest Nazi death camp, a memorial ceremony for the victims is held every year on 27 January. This day also commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and death camp by the Red Army in 1945.

Switzerland was represented at the ceremony in Auschwitz by the president of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga.

Message by President Simonetta Sommaruga on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 2020

The IHRA was founded in 1998 to promote and advance Holocaust education, research and remembrance worldwide. Its 34 member countries work together to combat genocide, racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia.

Switzerland has been a member of the IHRA since 2004 and assumed its chairmanship in 2017.