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date: 26 January 2009

embargo: 00.01hrs Wednesday 27 January 2010

TUC calls for end to discrimination and hatred on Holocaust Memorial Day

The TUC is calling for an end to discrimination and prejudice on Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) today (Wednesday).

HMD commemorates the loss of life in the holocaust of World War II, and in more recent genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur. It is held on the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, where 1.6 million men, women and children were killed in the Nazi holocaust.

HMD aims to remind people of the crimes and racism of the holocaust and prevent it being forgotten or repeated.

Alongside the six million Jewish victims of Nazi persecution, hundreds of thousands of others were targeted by Hitler's regime - including union members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people (LGBT) people.

Members of the TUC LGBT committee are attending the national memorial event in London, and are urging LGBT people and union members to support HMD events taking place around the country.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Unions have always stood up to the kind of discrimination, prejudice and hatred that led to the Nazi holocaust and more recent genocides across the world.

'LGBT people were among the millions of victims of Hitler's brutal regime, and today LGBT communities are a vital part of the resistance to modern versions of this hatred. I am proud that LGBT union members are taking part in the event.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- For more information please visit www.hmd.org.uk

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 27 Jan 2010