Commissioner Maria Damanaki on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
"On 27th January we commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. This is a day to pay tribute to those who suffered and died under the Nazi-fascist regimes; but also an occasion to express our firm commitment to eradicate racism and fight against discrimination. Today we have the antidote to these scourges: it is strengthening democracy. Democracy means dialogue and inclusiveness; the respect of human rights and human dignity are at its foundation. It is our duty to nurture democracy, to be alongside those who fight for their political and human rights, in Europe and elsewhere, to protect the rights of minorities. In the difficult times that Europe is facing at the moment, when our society's fabric is under strain, we must to act in solidarity and remain vigilant so that those same ideas that led to the horrors of the past are not tolerated."
