Holocaust Memorial Day Talk - at Newcastle City Library - Peace is Personal

Smajo Beso shares his own story 'Peace is Personal’, marking 30 years since genocide in Bosnia

Smiling man with dark hair and glasses holds up an OBE medal

Dates

29 January 2025

Visitor information

Booking links coming soon.

*Please note: This event takes place in Newcastle City Library NOT Discovery Museum

2pm-3pm. 

Free, booking required

This event will be supported by a British Sign Language interpreter. Personal hearing loops will also be available on request at time of booking.

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The UK Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 will be a particularly significant year as we mark 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia.

About

The title for this year's talk is Peace is Personal. This year’s speaker in Newcastle for Holocaust Memorial Day is Smajo Beso. Smajo was born in Bosnia in 1985. His father, and several male relatives, were tortured in concentration camps as Bosnian Muslims became targets of genocide. Smajo’s close relatives were murdered.

In 1994, Smajo and his family arrived in Newcastle as refugees. Today, he regularly shares his experiences and has played a vital role in organising Holocaust Memorial Day and Bosnian Genocide commemorations across the country.

Most recently, Smajo was recognised with an OBE for services to genocide education and commemoration in the New Year’s Honours 2023.