5. Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Holocaust Memorial Day

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:18 pm on 25 January 2022.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 4:18, 25 January 2022

Diolch yn fawr. Thank you very much, Darren Millar, and thank you for your recognition, particularly not just of our support for Holocaust Memorial Day and the events that we take part in, but also support for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, the funding that we provide, and I'm glad that you welcome the events that are being held across Wales. Indeed, I'm sure many Members here will want to refer to them. I think the fact we've got such a range, including the Josef Herman Art Foundation Cymru—they've got a short film on theme of 'one day', which is going to look at, in the past, 1942, one day in the present, focusing on the current plight of refugees, and then one day 50 years in the future and the issue of climate refugees, all very current and relevant—looking to the Olive Trust, hosting an online memorial event, including speakers sharing personal accounts of the Holocaust, and, indeed, Cardiff United Synagogue supporting the Wales National Holocaust Memorial Day remembrance service online that's being held and partaking in smaller services as well, but including also in the events this week Churches Together in Wales using their opportunities, particularly through social media, Llandaff Cathedral, with a prayer session and choral evensong, as well as Disability Wales—these are all diverse organisations—highlighting how disabled people were targeted and treated during the Holocaust, and using resources to show that impact.

I think it's very sad that we're not having a cross-party event together, Darren, as we have done in many times past. It actually was in 2020 that together we attended as Assembly Members, as we were then, the event in the Senedd—and those cross-party events are important; we will gather, I'm sure, in the future to do that—with, as you said, Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich giving her personal account. But also it was very relevant that we had Isaac Blake speaking about the experiences of Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust, but also, I'd have to say, the First Minister and I attending Cardiff United Synagogues' public menorah-lighting ceremony in Cardiff castle on the final night of Hanukkah before Christmas—a historic event, because it was the first ever public menorah lighting to be held at the castle. And I can continue, with our ongoing inter-faith engagement, with faith leaders coming together, including the Jewish community. So, there is much we must be positive about, in terms of recognition of how we come together, learning from genocide for a better future.

Now, I do acknowledge the issues that you've raised. Clearly, the issues around the Cadw server have been addressed. And I would like to just comment on the appointment of the Children's Commissioner for Wales, because I was delighted by the appointment of the next Children's Commissioner for Wales. The cross-party appointment panel that I chaired unanimously agreed on the successful candidate, and the Children, Young People, and Education Committee, which held a public pre-appointment scrutiny hearing, saw no reason not to endorse the appointment. The First Minister has replied to the Welsh Conservatives, who have made a range of unsubstantiated claims, and he set out the robustness of the recruitment process, which all Members are aware of. The appointment process will not be reopened. But I think, importantly, to say to Darren and colleagues, I was determined that the involvement of children and young people was an integral part of the recruitment exercise, and they were involved at a number of points through this recruitment exercise, and I'm sure that Members will want to now welcome the new appointment and the new children's commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes, who will start in her post in due course.

It is important that we continue to be vigilant in terms of our commitment to antisemitism, and I think the ways in which we come together throughout the year, not just now, the National Holocaust Memorial Day, are important. I think to be accountable as the Welsh social justice Minister for the Welsh Government is important in terms of our commitment to tackle hate crime and antisemitism, in particular today. So, adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism in full, without qualification, back in 2017, and restating that commitment in 2018, on every opportunity—. And of course this is an opportunity to share the importance of that with all our public bodies across Wales, because its adoption is quite clearly an important step to support understanding and recognition of contemporary forms of antisemitism, to be clear that antisemitism in any form will not be tolerated in Wales, and the Welsh Government stands with the Jewish community. We condemn the vile hatred expressed by individuals who seek to create a climate of fear and aim to fragment our communities.

So, we remain vigilant, but we today also recognise what we can do, what contribution we can make on Holocaust Memorial Day in this Senedd and in Welsh Government and indeed across Wales, as our support for all of these events that I've described will indicate.