Why Teach about Genocide? The Example of the Holocaust “Whether
you live in Central Africa, in China, in the South Pacific, or
in Switzerland, you have to be aware of the danger that genocide
presents. Education about the Holocaust ultimately means to
remove humanity as far away as possible from that extreme form
of mass murder”. These words of Professor Yehuda Bauer of the
Hebrew University in Jerusalem, pronounced at UNESCO
headquarters in January 2012, help us understand how universal
the legacy of the Holocaust is, and how important it has become
to ensure that it is taught globally. Many countries across the
globe have taken up the challenge in the past years, including
several that have no direct connection with the genocide of the
Jewish people. This development shows a growing understanding
that, besides the necessary commemoration of victims, learning
and teaching about the Holocaust contributes to advance the
prevention of mass atrocities. It does this notably by focusing
on understanding the ramifi