Transcription
The campaign Traces to Remember, designed as a tool to teach, prevent and preserve human rights is being carried out successfully in many countries of Latin America.
The initiative was presented to the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica on Thursday, May 23, 2013, where governmental officials, political and civic leaders, professors, activists, Holocaust survivors and their families gathered with the objective of promoting opportunities to analyze and raise awareness about the need to prevent another genocide from happening in the history of humanity.
The participants agreed that as a preventive measure, it is necessary for present and new generations to be taught based on respect for human dignity and the fundamental rights of human beings.
—Luis Fernando Mendoza, President of the Legislative Assembly—
“The Holocaust should always remind us of certain truths, which if forgotten, can destroy civilization. That is why our commitment as a country of peace, respectful of human rights, is to work in unity with every person, organization, institution, or nation that strives to avoid the repetition of events like the Holocaust, seeking to leave behind any anti-Semitic rhetoric."
—Carlos Roverssi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs—
"Part of the evil is also represented in the denial of historical facts. Particularly if related to a human tragedy like the Holocaust, or the genocide of the Hebrew people; it is simply disgraceful. Likewise, it is evil to ask that any state or nation be erased from the planet. For that reason, Doctor, thank you very much. Thank you very much to all of you for making this effort to have that Trace and remind the world of what happened, and what should not happen again."
—Deputy Justo Orozco Alvarez—
“The vast majority of genocides, massacres and destruction caused by intolerance, racial, religious and ideological differences, often stem from prejudice, ignorance, lack of tolerance and lack of memory. It is necessary to take preventive actions, using education as a tool to build generations that respect human rights and create paths to peace.”
—Dr. William Soto, Ambassador of the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace—
“The Holocaust is the saddest failure of free civilization. Our goal as the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace is to educate present and future generations to raise awareness about the consequences of discrimination and intolerance, so that crimes against a group of people due to racial, ethnic, linguistic, cultural or religious discrimination never take place again.”
Holocaust survivors spoke about the importance of being able to tell their story to the world and thanked Costa Rica for allowing them to live in freedom.
—Salomon Fachler, Holocaust Survivor—
“Very few people in Costa Rica know that I am a World War II refuge. First of all, because I never wanted to talk about the matter, second of all, because I rejected the idea. But in recent years, because of what is happening in the world, I decided to speak about the Holocaust when I was asked to do so. What I do is talk about some of the different things I lived through in the Holocaust, and thank Costa Rica, which is now my homeland and which I am very proud of.”
—Frida Goldberg de Gutreiman, Holocaust Survivor—
“Good morning everyone. I thank Costa Rica for allowing me and my family to live in peace and freedom. Thank you.”
“Let’s proceed with the signing of the Act…”
The event concluded with the unveiling of the plaques of the Fachler, Goldberg and Wajntraub families, after which the participants pledged their support to create various projects in defense of human rights.