Panama commemorated the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
The GEAP along with other organizations
The Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP) and the United Nations Information Center in Panama carried out the educational forum “Educate to Remember: The Holocaust and Human Rights”, at the Yellow House of the Presidency of the Republic of Panama, as part of the events for the Annual International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.
Part of the accredited diplomatic corps was present during this academic event: Reyna Camacho, Vice Consul of the Dominican Republic; Alex Campos, Deputy Chief Manager of International Organizations of the Embassy of El Salvador; Karl Burrows, Deputy Chief of the British Embassy; and Guillaume Mounier, Deputy Chief of the Embassy of France. Mr. Luis Batista, social communicator of the Grupo Epasa; the Jewish Community of Panama; Magister Mariano Nuñez, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the American University of Panama, students and activists for peace of Panama, were also present at this academic event.
Dr. Constantino Riquelme, professor at various Panama universities, shared his thoughts on the importance of preventing genocides with different actions: strengthen a culture of peace, combat impunity of legal materials and proceedings and promote the existence of an International Criminal Court according to the Rome Statute. Dr. Riquelme also praised the initiative of the Global Embassy and Peace Activist, Dr. William Soto Santiago, for summoning leading academics, lawyers and law specialists to update international law through the Project “Justice for Peace”.
Mrs. Lilia Herrera Mow, Public Advocate (Ombudsman) of the People of Panama, participated in the event, expressing that young people need to learn about these historic events so that they are not repeated, given that current discrimination, racial hatred and xenophobia are proof that the world needs a change.
Holocaust survivor, Felix Poznanski, recounted the wrenching experience and testimony of his early life, which he confronted with integrity to survive difficult situations like train travel in deplorable conditions and the Nazi concentration camps; and in turn urging the public to fight against similar acts so that they are not repeated. Holocaust survivor, Dr. Jaime Segal, also took part, who made a brief conceptual focus on fundamentalism and its consequences, of not being able to prevent events like the Holocaust and other genocides in the history of humanity from happening, mainly by ideology of evil that some governments have spread. Dr. Jiesselinde Gonzalez, Official of the United Nations Information Center in Panama, conveyed the message of the General Secretary of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, in which he warns that 70 years after the liberation of the concentration camp in Auschwitz, hatred towards minorities still exists, and affirmed the commitment of this organization in protecting those most vulnerable and promoting fundamental rights, freedom and dignity of all people.
The event concluded with the words of the Global Ambassador and Activist for Peace, Dr. William Soto, who emphasized the extent of the Project “Traces to Remember” in all of Latin America, rescuing the memory of the Holocaust survivors and promoting educational events in different fields, in order to prevent this international crime from being relativize, to not be diminished nor forgotten, and urging to work for the enactment of anti-discrimination laws that criminalize the denial of different genocides in the world.
A simple ceremony of the lighting of six candles in memory of the six million men and women, children, teens (young people), adults and elders, was conducted at the academic event; those who underwent the greatest physical and moral cruelty during the Holocaust, maintained their dignity until the last moment of life.
Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony at the Casa del Pueblo of Panama
The Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP) in Panama continued with their academic agenda, assisting a special event along with 100 students of the Faculty of Law of the University of Panama, sponsored by the Public Advocate (Ombudsman) at the Casa del Pueblo Panameño, Annual International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, thus strengthening cooperation ties between these organizations.
The Public Advocate of the People, Lilia Herrera Mow, conducted a reflection on the importance of knowing the history that shook humanity and that endangered their survival, and urged young people to be defenders of truth and Human Rights, without differences or discrimination. In turn, Ariel Cerrud, Coordinator of the GEAP in Panama, thanked the Public Advocate (Ombudsman) of the country for the invitation to highlight this important date in their agenda, and making known the different activities developed by the Global Ambassador and Activist for Peace Dr. William Soto Santiago in defense of Human Rights and working for peace in the human family.
The presentations of Richard Morales, lecturer in Political Science from the Universidad Santa María la Antigua of Panama and Holocaust survivor, Dr. Jaime Segal, were also heard at the event.
