The Croatian government on Sunday marked the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, saying that the protection of every person's dignity was an obligation towards Holocaust victims and underlining the importance of educating the youth about the mindless tragedy of the Jewish people across occupied Europe during World War II.

January 27 was chosen to mark the Holocaust because on that date in 1945 when the biggest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, was closed down.

“The International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the darkest period in human history – the systematic persecution, genocide and horrible suffering, primarily of the Jewish people, as well as of other victims of the Nazi regime,” a Croatian Government statement said.

“As a notion, the Holocaust is the full negation of humanity as well as of all cultural and civilisational attainments and fundamental moral values of humankind,” it said.

Recalling that International Holocaust Remembrance Day provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the millions of innocent women, men and children killed only because their religion or ethnic background was different, the government called for educating young people about the suffering of innocent victims and the tragedy of the Jewish people across occupied Europe.

This also refers to education about the 1941-1945 Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and the Ustasha-run concentration camp of Jasenovac and other places of suffering, where thousands of Jews and members of other ethnic groups, as well as Croatian antifascists and democrats, were killed, the government said.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day also provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the 117 Croatian Righteous Among the Nations, who during World War II risked their own lives to save Jewish fellow citizens, the government said.

Only young people who have been made aware of and have been taught lessons from the past will be able to build a modern society, free of any hate and intolerance, in line with democratic and European values, reads the government statement.

“Further strengthening the freedom and equality of all people as well as protecting the inalienable dignity of every person should be a joint duty and obligation towards all Holocaust victims,” it said.