Israeli Ambassador Urges Inclusion of Holocaust Education in Schools

The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, H.E. Roey Gilad, has called for the Holocaust to be incorporated into school curricula to strengthen the fight against discrimination, extremism and violence against humanity.

Moderating a panel discussion in Accra last week, to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Ambassador Gilad reflected on the Holocaust’s significance and its lessons for Africa, given the continent’s own history of slavery, genocide and xenophobia.

The panel included H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi, Rwandan Ambassador to Ghana; Dr. Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Prof. Samuel Ntewusu, Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana.

The Case for Holocaust Education

Ambassador Gilad argued that teaching the Holocaust in schools would help young people understand the dangers of racism, bigotry and violence.

He highlighted Ghana’s historical role in World War II, noting that over 40,000 Gold Coast soldiers fought alongside the Allied forces, contributing to the defeat of the Nazi Axis.

“Eighty years after the end of the Holocaust, most survivors are no longer with us. It is now our responsibility to keep their stories alive and ensure such atrocities never happen again,” he stated.

He also drew parallels between the Holocaust and other genocides, including the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi and the atrocities in Darfur, emphasising the need for global vigilance against hatred and intolerance.

Perspectives from Panelists

Rwandan Ambassador H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi stressed that the world has not fully learned from history, pointing out that discrimination and violence continue to create conditions for genocide.

“We say ‘never again,’ but genocides still happen. We must move forward and live for those we lost, ensuring ‘never again’ is a practical reality,” she remarked.

Dr. Joseph Whittal of CHRAJ noted that if the world had learned its lesson from the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide could have been prevented. He praised Ghana’s human rights progress, particularly through the 1992 Constitution and urged the country to continue strengthening its commitment to justice and equality.

Prof. Samuel Ntewusu echoed the need for structured Holocaust education, explaining that the Holocaust was driven by racist and xenophobic ideologies, similar to those fueling ethnic conflicts in parts of Africa.

“If not checked, these ideologies can bring calamity. Teaching about the Holocaust can help manage and prevent such crises,” he said.

A Call for Vigilance and Action

Charles Abani, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, underscored the importance of Holocaust remembrance in preventing future atrocities.

“Eighty years ago, apathy, dehumanisation and hatred won. We must remain vigilant against anti-semitism, racism and xenophobia,” he warned.

He also pointed to the growing threat of Holocaust denial and misinformation in the digital age, citing a UN report that found 16.2% of Holocaust-related content on social media distorts historical facts.

“We need to safeguard history to honour the victims and prevent history from repeating itself,” he added.

A Global Responsibility

As part of the commemoration, the UN Secretary-General’s message was read, reaffirming the global duty to remember the Holocaust and combat rising anti-semitism and hate speech. The message also addressed contemporary conflicts, including the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which Ambassador Gilad described as a “terrible massacre” that evoked memories of past tragedies.

The event concluded with a renewed call for education, advocacy, and international cooperation to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust remain relevant in the fight against discrimination and human rights violations worldwide.

The post Israeli Ambassador Urges Inclusion of Holocaust Education in Schools appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

Read Full Story