A MOVING event which commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day filled Worcester’s Guildhall.

The event, which was held earlier today, remembered victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution and aimed to raise awareness of conditions that lead to community division.

The mayor of Worcester, Jabba Riaz said: “The hall was packed, and we heard very moving speeches. Events in our history define us and shape the way we evolve as mankind, and as nations and communities. They are there as lessons for us to learn from and grow from.

“They are real tragic events that happened in our own history. They are a reminder of the cruel nature of man when hatred seeps in and causes havoc. These events are important to remind us of where we come from and to prevent them from happening again.”

Katie Henshaw, aged 18, who attended the event said: “The amount of people that turned up today shows they want to be learning about history and take on board that it has happened. The event has shown we can do things to prevent it from happening again in the future.”

Students from Worcester secondary schools performed readings, read out poems and told a story from a Holocaust survivor.

A student violinist from King’s School played the theme song from the film Schindler’s List.

Holocaust Memorial Day is marked each year and a different theme is used to highlight the importance of the effect of past genocides on society today.

This year’s theme ‘Torn from Home’ encourages the community to reflect on how the loss of a safe place to call ‘home’ is part of the trauma faced by anyone experiencing genocide.

Holocaust Memorial Day reflected on what happens when individuals, families and communities are driven out of their homes and the continuing difficulties survivors face as they try to find and build new homes when the genocide is over.

The event marked the 25th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, which began in April 1994 and the 40th anniversary of the end of the genocide in Cambodia which ended in 1979.

A survivor of the Rwandan Genocide, Dieudonne Ganza Gahizi, spoke about his story on escaping genocide and the trauma he has been dealing with since.