International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/60/7
About International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
The United Nations observes 27 January as the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, commonly called International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The General Assembly established the annual observance in 2005.
The day commemorates the victims of the Holocaust and supports remembrance and education intended to counter antisemitism, racism, prejudice, Holocaust denial and distortion, and to help prevent future acts of genocide.
Why International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust matters
Holocaust remembrance requires historical accuracy. Educational activities should distinguish documented history from denial, distortion, conspiracy narratives or generalized comparisons that erase the specific history of Nazi persecution and mass murder.
The UN also emphasizes survivor testimony, human dignity and the broader obligation to challenge antisemitism, racism and other forms of discrimination.
History of International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
On 24 January 2005, the General Assembly held a special session commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps.
On 1 November 2005, the General Assembly adopted resolution 60/7 without a vote, designating 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and establishing the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme.
The first UN observance took place on 27 January 2006. The date marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 27 January 1945. Later General Assembly resolutions 61/255 in 2007 and 76/250 in 2022 addressed Holocaust denial.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Twenty-eighth special session of the General Assembly commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps
The one-off General Assembly commemoration preceded resolution 60/7 later that year, which created the recurring 27 January International Day and Outreach Programme.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution 60/7
First documented observance
The United Nations 2006 observance page states that the International Day was being observed for the first time on 27 January 2006.
Condemned without reservation any denial of the Holocaust and urged Member States to reject denial.
United Nations General Assembly · A/RES/61/255
Adopted a further resolution on Holocaust denial, reinforcing the institutional remembrance and anti-denial framework.
United Nations General Assembly · A/RES/76/250
Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme, United Nations Department of Global Communications
The Programme states that it leads the annual 27 January observance and supports UN offices worldwide.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
How to Observe International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Use survivor testimony and reputable museum, archive, UNESCO or UN educational resources with precise attribution.
Teach chronology and primary-source literacy so learners can identify denial, distortion and fabricated evidence.
Discuss antisemitism and other forms of racism and prejudice without collapsing distinct histories into interchangeable examples.
Avoid graphic imagery where it is not educationally necessary and provide age-appropriate context for difficult material.
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust Facts
The UN observance is held on 27 January.
General Assembly resolution 60/7 was adopted on 1 November 2005.
The first UN observance was held on 27 January 2006.
27 January marks the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme leads the annual UN observance.
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust Messages
On International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, we remember with dignity and make space for the people, families and communities whose experiences must not be forgotten.
May International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust be marked with reflection, respect and a renewed commitment to protect human dignity.
Remembering on International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust means listening carefully, resisting distortion and carrying the lessons of history forward.
On International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, may memory lead to responsibility, empathy and thoughtful action.
May this International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust honour those at its heart through sincere remembrance rather than empty words.
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust Quotes
“Remembering is also a safeguard for the future.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/76/250 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — resolution 60/7 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — 2006 first observance and resolution 60/7 context (opens in a new tab)
un.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust?
27 January The documented recurrence rule is: 27 January.
Does International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations international remembrance observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme, United Nations Department of Global Communications.
Is International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations international remembrance observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When did the UN establish International Holocaust Remembrance Day?
The General Assembly adopted resolution 60/7 on 1 November 2005, designating 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.
Why is 27 January the date?
The date marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 27 January 1945.
Who leads the UN observance?
The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme, within the UN Department of Global Communications, leads the annual observance and supports remembrance and education activities worldwide.
Other observances on January 27
These observances are also listed on January 27, 2027.
Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum dates the liberation of Auschwitz to 27 January 1945 and continues to organize the annual liberation-anniversary commemoration on 27 January.
Holocaust Memorial Day
UK government material marks Holocaust Memorial Day annually on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Library Shelfie Day
The New York Public Library says Library Shelfie Day occurs every year on the fourth Wednesday of January and that the tradition started in 2014.
World Breast Pumping Day
Snugabell states that it created World Breast Pumping Day in 2017 and invites pumping parents to celebrate on January 27; independent 2018 coverage documents Snugabell as the creator and th…