John Leech MP helps commemorate Holocaust victims

11.00.00am GMT Fri 26th Jan 2007

John Leech, MP for Manchester Withington, will today be taking part in events to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and other genocide as part of Holocaust Memorial Day.

January 27th marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and Holocaust Memorial Day was founded in order that the victims of the Nazis and other genocides are not forgotten.

John has signed a Book of Commitment in Parliament to make a pledge that the Holocaust is not forgotten. He will also be attending an event at Manchester's Cornerhouse cinema along with community and faith leaders to ask what lessons can be learnt from this dark era of human history.

John Leech MP said: "Holocaust Memorial Day provides a focus for each of us to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust. We must not only reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust and remember all the victims killed and persecuted by the Nazis but also to challenge all types of prejudice and discrimination, which continue in our society today.

"Didsbury is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Manchester making this event important to both me and my constituents."

Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said: "We are delighted that John Leech MP is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day. At a time when we still see groups and individuals questioning the validity of the Holocaust, Holocaust Memorial Day and Holocaust Education is more important than ever."

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Notes for Editors

John Leech MP will be attending the Holocaust memorial event at the Cornerhouse cinema from 9.30-12.30 on Friday 26th January.

John Leech MP has signed the Holocaust Memorial Day Book of Commitment as well as Early Day Motion 1347, the text and signatories of which can be found at

"http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=29734&SESSION=875";

For further information on John Leech MP's activities around Holocaust Memorial Day, please contact his Parliamentary Assistant, Joshua Glendinning on 0161 434 3334 or at glendinningj@parliament.uk.

For further information on Holocaust Memorial Day please contact Nancy Tenenbaum from the Holocaust Educational Trust on 020 7222 6822

The theme for UK Holocaust Memorial Day 2007 is "The Dignity of Difference." It will provide a focus for learning about the different groups excluded by the Nazis including Jews, Gypsies (Roma and Sinti), disabled people, lesbian and gay people, and black people and other groups. The theme will enable individuals to learn about the consequences of exclusion based on peoples' differences. It will also encourage communities to build and develop a society where differences are respected and admired rather than being divisive.

The purpose of Holocaust Memorial Day is to remember the horrors of the Holocaust and those who perished. The day aims to ensure that the horrendous crimes against humanity committed during the Holocaust are never forgotten, and its relevance for each new generation is understood.

Details of the national event in Newcastle on 27th January and associated events across the rest of the UK are available on the Holocaust Memorial Day website at www.hmd.org.uk