OPINION: The Fragility Of Freedom – that’s the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2024

Freedom is a word that is often thrown around casually, but it is a word that carries a heavy weight. In the Western world, we enjoy many freedoms that people in other parts of the world can only dream of.

These freedoms are enshrined in law and cherished by all. They include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association, freedom of religion, and the freedom to pursue our dreams. These freedoms are fundamental to our way of life but as we have seen in recent times, they should not be taken for granted.

Freedom is precious, but it is also fragile and can be easily diminished. It is vulnerable to attack from many quarters, and there are always those who seek to curtail or abolish it altogether. History has shown that freedom can be lost in many ways, often by authoritarian regimes that deliberately chip away at civic freedoms in order to penalise identified groups.

Nazi Germany serves as a stark reminder of how quickly freedom can be lost with devastating consequences. The Holocaust was the murder of 6 million Jewish people – a blatant violation of the basic human right to life – and it was made possible by the systematic erosion of other freedoms and rights that German Jews had taken for granted.

Jews were forbidden to associate freely with non-Jewish people in workplaces and schools, freedom of the press was restricted, and eventually of course freedom of movement was restricted and freedom to life revoked. This was then repeated as the German army swept through and occupied Europe.

In more recent genocides, too, perpetrator regimes chipped away at freedoms enjoyed by all citizens, targeting minority groups for persecution. Tutsis in Rwanda were denied freedom of education for many years leading up to the genocide; Bosnian Muslims were denied freedom of movement and confined to concentration camps such as the notorious Omarska camp.

Across the world today we see communities suffering threats to freedom. Uighur Muslims in China are forbidden to practice their religion and culture freely, Rohingya Muslims are unable to live freely in Myanmar.

The Fragility of Freedom is a theme which highlights the fragility of the many freedoms we take for granted. It will prompt us to reflect that the freedoms we often assume are embedded in the modern world are in fact vulnerable, and must be actively supported and maintained.

We can reflect too on the biases and prejudices that we may hold, as well as the systems and structures that may perpetuate inequality and oppression. By focusing on the fragility of freedom, we can work to create a more just and equitable society that upholds the principles of freedom for all.

Across the world today we see communities suffering threats to freedom. Uighur Muslims in China are forbidden to practice their religion and culture freely, Rohingya Muslims are unable to live freely in Myanmar.

As I see it, freedom is not just the absence of oppression, nor is it the ability to do whatever we want. It is the ability to pursue our goals, express ourselves, and live our lives as we see fit, as long as we do not infringe upon the rights of others. It is the ability to live without fear of persecution or oppression from the state or other groups.

Above all, we must remember that whilst in the UK our freedoms are protected by law, around the world are people whose freedoms are at risk of being undermined. We must be willing to stand up for our rights and for the rights of others. We must be willing to speak out against injustice and work to create a society that upholds the principles of freedom, equality, and human rights for all.

One of the greatest threats to freedom is complacency. When we take freedoms for granted, we become vulnerable to those who would take them away. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and it is essential that we appreciate and defend freedoms if we are to preserve them for future generations.

• Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE is the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
• Find out more about Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 theme here.