BARNSLEY will mark Holocaust Memorial Day at the town hall on Monday evening.

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is commemorated every year on the poignant date that this year marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, where more than a million people were murdered.

It also remembers the victims of later genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan.

HMD was first held in 2000 and Barnsley is one of the few communities where a commemorative event has been held every year since then.

The theme for this year’s - held at Barnsley Town Hall from 6pm - is ‘bridging the generations’ and speakers at the event will include school pupils, college students, the Mayor of Barnsley, Deputy Mayor of South Yorkshire, Young Mayor of Barnsley, faith leaders and the Anne Frank Trust, with music provided by the Wombwell Mixed Voice Choir.

Peter Fielding, chair of the organising group, said: “I am particularly proud that this important event has been commemorated every year in Barnsley without fail.

“It continues to be important that we remember the Holocaust and other genocides and remind ourselves and others of the lessons we can learn from past events.

“We have set out this year to focus on the work done with our young people to raise awareness of the actions that lead to genocides.

“Every genocide starts with the discrimination against and marginalisation of a particular group of people, based on ethnicity, religion or other characteristic.

“With the current global and domestic political and social tensions, it is vital that we recognise the importance of checking and preventing discrimination and hatred as these are the starting points of a potential genocide.

“I would encourage everyone on Holocaust Memorial Day to think about how lessons from the past can help prevent future genocides as well as remembering the victims of the Holocaust and the other genocides.

“Lighting a candle is the traditional way to show remembrance to past victims.”