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January 27, 2021 "Covid-19 has highlighted deep and ancient fractures and injustices in our societies, contributing to the reawakening of anti-Semitism and xenophobia", but also of new discrimination and "joint efforts are urgently needed to stop them".
This was stated by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a video message for the Day of Remembrance.
"The Holocaust represented the culmination of two millennia of discrimination, attacks, expulsions and periodic mass exterminations of Jews," said Guterres. "It should have put an end and definitive point to anti-Semitism. But it did not. Unfortunately, anti-Semitism remains alive and well. Today, white supremacists and neo-Nazis are being reborn, organizing and recruiting across borders, stepping up their efforts to deny, distort and rewrite history, including the Holocaust. The Covid pandemic- 19 has provided them with new opportunities to target minorities on the basis of religion, race, ethnic group, sexual orientation, disability and migration status. "
Therefore - concludes the UN secretary - while we consider the recovery from Covid-19, we must deal with the fragility and gaps highlighted by the pandemic and strengthen our mutual ties, based on our common humanity.This must be a year of healing.
Healing from the pandemic but also from the hatred that has so easily taken root in our wounded societies.
Our best tribute to the Holocaust victims we commemorate and the survivors we honor is the creation of a world of equality, justice and dignity for all. "