Holocaust

Public discussion "The Holocaust and Social Responsibility: Lessons for Today"

On 10 December 2024, the Babyn Yar National Historical Memorial Reserve hosted a public discussion entitled The Holocaust and Social Responsibility: Lessons for Today. During the discussion, historians, political scientists, archivists, and cultural experts considered the Holocaust not only as a historical event, but also as a phenomenon that has lessons for preventing any manifestations of mass crimes today. Particular attention was paid to the role of society in confronting injustice and fighting for the protection of human rights and responsibility of each individual for the future.

Public figures and scholars took part in the discussion. Anatolii Podolskyi, Head of the Ukrainian Centre for Holocaust Studies, made a presentation on Memory of the Past as a Weapon in Modern War. In particular, in his speech, the scholar emphasised: “the historical calendar of modern Ukraine is already a true history and memory, unlike the times of the communist dictatorship. We must study, remember, and analyse our past. At the same time, it is important that academic research does not turn into propaganda”.

Other speakers at the public discussion included Oleksandra Matviichuk, Chair of the Center for Civil Liberties and Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 2022 (video address); Kyrylo Vyslobokov, Director of the Archival Information Systems; Yuriy (Amir) Radchenko, Holocaust scholar and author; Pavlo Kozlenko, Director of the Museum of Genocide Territory of Memory (video address). The event was moderated by Roza Tapanova, director of the Babyn Yar Reserve.

[Read more about the event]