We are encouraging residents to remember genocide victims as the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday 27 January.

Holocaust Memorial Day commemorates the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust, and the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution. It also remembers victims from other acts of genocide throughout history.

The theme for 2026 is 'Bridging Generations'. It is a reminder that the responsibility of remembrance doesn't end with the survivors - it lives on through their children, their grandchildren and through all of us.

This theme encourages us all to engage actively with the past - to listen, to learn and to carry those lessons forward. By doing so, we build a bridge between memory and action, between history and hope for the future.

We will be lowering the flags at Torquay Town Hall to half-mast on Tuesday 27 January to mark the occasion.

We would also like to use this day, which promotes understanding and tolerance, to remind residents about the importance of reporting hate crime.

A hate crime is a criminal offence against someone because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity.

Whether you're a victim or witness, you can report a hate crime by contacting the police. The more hate crimes are reported, the better we can understand the issue and work to prevent it.

For more information about hate crime visit: Hate Crime - Torbay Council

The Civic Mayor of Torbay, Councillor Barbara Lewis, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day reminds us of the six million Jews and all those persecuted under the Nazi regime, as well as the victims of more recent genocides. By reflecting on these tragedies, we learn the importance of speaking out against persecution, challenging hatred, and safeguarding the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

''This day helps ensure that the lives lost and the communities destroyed are never forgotten, and it strengthens our commitment to educating future generations about the consequences of racism and intolerance. We encourage everyone in our community to join us in marking this day and honouring the memory of all those who suffered.”