Emotional ceremony held in Leicestershire to remember the Holocaust

This year’s ceremony was particularly emotive as it marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Poland in January 1945.

The event also remembered the tragic loss of life as a result of devastating genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur and Bosnia since the Second World War.

County council chairman, Cllr Pam Posnett MBE, and Cllr Louise Richardson, cabinet member for equalities, hosted the extremely moving occasion.

They welcomed guests, including Prof Aubrey Newman, of the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

He delivered the keynote address.

Cllr Richardson said: "Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity for people around the UK, regardless of their faith, age, ethnicity or identity, to learn about those affected by genocide and persecution.

“By doing so, we are able to recognise and work to prevent division and hate from defining people’s experience of our own communities.”

Last year, 10,000 activities took place across the UK to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Events were held in civic halls, public spaces, libraries, cinemas, workplaces, schools and universities to commemorate the

international day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and all other genocides.

It has been held in the UK since 2001 and the United Nations declared it an international event in November 2005.

To learn more about Holocaust Memorial Day, you can visit www.hmd.org.uk