Students from Monaco participated in this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day events both locally and on the international stage, as the world marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

A delegation from the Principality traveled to the former concentration camp on 27th January for a historic ceremony attended by representatives from 54 countries and over 50 Holocaust survivors.

Monaco was represented by Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who is also currently acting Minister of State. She was accompanied by two students, Johar Benbrikhou from the Institution François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré and Laura Vaselli from Lycée Albert Ier, along with their teacher Nikol Abecassis. Their presence reflected Monaco’s dedication to Holocaust education and the broader fight against crimes against humanity.

Back in Monaco, students continued the tribute on 28th January with a special theatrical performance at Lycée Albert Ier. Organised by the Department of Education, Youth, and Sport, drama students presented poetry by Charlotte Delbo, Nelly Sachs, and Paul Celan. They also paid homage to historical figures connected to Monaco, including resistance fighter Herbert Traube, deportation victim Mieczyslaw Oxner, poet and journalist Armand Gatti, and celebrated artist and resistance member Joséphine Baker.

With 2024 marking 80 years since the Liberation of France and 2025 set to commemorate the end of World War II and the discovery of Auschwitz, this year’s events served as a strong reminder of the need to preserve historical memory and educate younger generations.

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Photo source: Government Communication Department