Interview: Holocaust universal lesson for the world: UN official

The Holocaust is not just a tragedy of Jewish people but also a universal lesson for everyone around the world to learn, said a UN official.

The lesson of Holocaust has taught people that violence starts with hateful words, said Kimberly Mann, manager of the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Program in a recent interview with Xinhua, referring to the systematic persecution and execution of approximately 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime that came to power in Germany in January 1933.

"I think what's really important though is, for all of us, to examine our history, however painful that history might be," said Mann.

In this instance, Mann said Germany is really a good role model to follow, because they face up to their history and do everything they can to promote understanding and tolerance within Germany, including introducing in "incredible" Holocaust education at all levels in their schools.

"Tolerance is what we need," she added, noting that the UN outreach program is to help people understand the consequences of bigotry and to encourage especially young people to stand up for the rights of others when they see things happening that can lead to trouble, discrimination and hatred.

Among the Holocaust education and remembrance activities they have had over the past few years, Mann mentioned her visit to China in 2013, expressing her "wonderful" impression on an exhibit about Jewish refugees in Shanghai.

"I learned a lot about this history," she said. "We really admire what the Chinese did to try to save the Jewish people and protected them in Shanghai."

From 1930s to 1940s during the World War II, about 30,000 Jewish people came to Shanghai, seeking shelter and refuge, and Shanghai provided them with the help they need.

According to Mann's introduction, China has been supportive for the Holocaust education program, and in cities like Nanjing, Hong Kong, Harbin, there are researches of Chinese scholars on the Holocaust, the Holocaust education center as well as relative activities.

In October 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing Jan. 27 as the annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

In the meantime, the resolution requested a program of outreach on the subject of the "Holocaust and the United Nations" to help to prevent future acts of genocide, which later turned into a slogan -- "never again".

"The expression that everyone uses 'never again' obviously doesn't ring true," Mann said. "Unfortunately violence continues around the world. Genocides are happening continually around the world."

"We should learn from the past," she added, especially on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the UN as well as the 10th anniversary of the International Holocaust Commemoration Day and also the Holocaust and the UN outreach program.

"I think this is an opportunity to look at the founding of the organization and how much the Holocaust helped to shape the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the UN charter and set out the importance of protection of human rights and dignity of every human being," she added.

Every year, the Holocaust Remembrance Program leads the annual observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust on Jan. 27.

This day was chosen to mark the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious Nazi concentration camp during the World War II. Endi