Watch: ‘Why we have to remember the Holocaust every year’

The worst genocide in human history might have happened 75 years ago, but its impact lingers on, according to Patrick Siegele, director of the Anne Frank Centre in Berlin.

The devastation caused by the Holocaust taught the world that stereotyping could turn into discrimination, racism and antisemitism, which in turn could lead to the murder of a whole population, Mr Siegele told the Times of Malta ahead of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

He referred to a recent study by the Fundamental Rights Agency which shows that 90 per cent of Jews in nine countries observe that antisemitism is on the rise, while 34 per cent avoid visiting Jewish events or sites because they did not feel safe. 

“Although ideal, I don’t believe we will ever live in a society without discrimination. Human rights will always be threatened and I’m convinced that this will be an ongoing struggle in any democracy. That is why we have to remember the Holocaust every year.”

This week Mr Siegele toured schools in Malta at the invitation of the President’s Foundation for the Well-being of Society, sharing Anne Frank’s story in a bid to humanise the theoretical issues of discrimination and human rights.

He...