Edinburgh joined the rest of Britain and the world in hosting events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day last week, remembering not only those that died in the Holocaust, but also other genocides since then.

January 27 1945 was the day when the notorious Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated and the day has been commemorated since 2001.

Around the world on this day, ceremonies take place, including at the UN headquarters in New York and Israel, and in Oświęcim (formally Auschwitz), Poland.

In Edinburgh Central Library, an exhibition of photos, music and texts from the Ernest Levy Archive commemorate not only Holocaust Memorial Day but also Levy's life as a survivor of seven Nazi concentration camps. After the liberation and the end of the war, Levy settled in Scotland.

Councillor Deidre Brock, Culture and Leisure Convenor for the City of Edinburgh Council, said, “Ernest Levy used the horrors of his own experience as a force for good to encourage tolerance and respect of others. Telling the story of his life through the collection will be a fitting way to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.”

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day this year is ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’, encouraging people to speak up against prejudices to ensure that nothing like the Holocaust can happen again.

Ollie Barbieri, famous for his role in Skins and Anuvahood has spoken out on behalf of student ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust saying, “it is a chance to remember and reflect on the stories of Holocaust survivors who speak up about their experiences so that others can learn from them.”

Edinburgh MP Mark Lazarowicz is also encouraging people to take part in Holocaust Memorial Day, saying, “as every year I will be supporting Holocaust Memorial Day by signing the Book of Commitment at the House of Commons and reaffirming my determination to fight discrimination and bigotry in our own society today.”