Number 10’s secret event for Holocaust Memorial Day
NUMBER 10 Downing Street has hosted its first ever Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration as part of a wider programme to ensure civil servants and staff working across government hear the testimonies of survivors.
The reception, which was opened by the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, on Wednesday afternoon saw staff hear moving testimonies from Steven Frank BEF, a Holocaust survivor, and Eric Eugene Murangwa MBE, a survivor of the genocide in Rwanda and a former international footballer.
The event was part of a wider initiative driven by Michael Livingston, Downing Street Senior Policy Adviser and a Civil Service Jewish Network officer, to try to ensure government teams link the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides to their work today.
This was the first year that every major government office had staged an event, with the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) continuing to act as a key partner at 15 events in over 20 central government departments.
Sir Mark said: “I am proud that every government department is now holding events to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.
“Hearing a survivor share their personal
story leaves a lasting impact and it is so important that those of us shaping public policy have the opportunity to do so. My own grandfather was with the British Army when it liberated Bergen-Belsen and I have been
struck personally by the power of these survivor testimonies, and how the lessons of the Holocaust still have resonance to those of us working in government today. I am grateful to the members of the Civil Service Jewish Network who have driven this crucial programme of commemorations.” “Whether you’re a civil servant or student, Member of Parliament or member of the public, the opportunity to hear from a Holocaust survivor is one of the most memorable experiences you can have,” said HET Chief Executive Karen Pollock MBE, who was present at the event along with the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Olivia Marks-Woldman. “We are delighted that we’ve been able to support Number 10 in this special commemoration, joining government departments, local communities and of thousands of schools around the country in becoming witnesses to the Holocaust.” Mr Livingston — who has worked in national security and counterterrorism — has previously staged an event with a survivor when he worked in the Home Office and had seen the impact it had on civil servants and other staff there. He decided to expand the initiative across all of Whitehall as the Holocaust fades from many people’s memory.
Over the past week, the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Lord Chancellor David Gauke and Environment Secretary Michael Gove have hosted their own events which featured survivors speaking to staff.
These receptions are intended to be much more personal occasions than the official Holocaust annual commemoration events, which are attended by dignitaries.
While Prime Minister Theresa May was not able to attend Wednesday’s reception due to the Brexit negotiations, she has taken a keen interest in survivors and had a private, 20-minute meeting with Mala Tribich, who survived Auschwitz, in April.
On Thursday, Downing Street is hosting a separate event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the arrival of Mr Livingston’s own grandfather, Friedrich Weiss, in the UK.
Every goverment department is holding HMD events'