On the morning of April 23, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han attended the 2025 International Holocaust Remembrance Day event at the Taipei Guest House in his capacity as Chairman of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. The event was co-organized by the Israel Economic and Cultural Office (ISECO) in Taipei, the German Institute Taipei, and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD). Those in attendance included President Lai Ching-Te; Israeli Knesset (parliament) members Boaz Toporovsky, Meirav Ben Ari, Ram Ben Barak, and Yoav Segalovitz; Maya Yaron, ISECO Representative; Andreas Hofem, Deputy Director-General of the German Institute Taipei; Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Secretary-General of the National Security Council; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. François Chih-Chung Wu; and Liao Da-Chi, President of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. The event began with a testimony from Orly Sela, the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor from Israel, followed by a rabbi’s recitation of prayers and a candle-lighting ceremony led by President Lai, President Han, and all distinguished guests to commemorate the lives of the victims.

In his remarks, President Han first expressed deep sorrow after hearing the testimony of Ms. Orly Sela, the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. President Han said that to honor the memory of the six million Jewish people and millions of other victims who perished in the Holocaust, the United Nations designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. Therefore, since 2016, the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and the German Institute Taipei have jointly organized annual commemorative events, with the aim of deepening public understanding of this historical tragedy in Taiwan and preventing such atrocities from occurring again.

As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized in a commemorative speech that, “the necessity of remembering the Holocaust lies in ensuring its lessons are never forgotten.” President Han noted that through survivor testimonies, Jewish prayers, and candle-lighting ceremonies during today’s event, people came together to mourn the Jewish victims persecuted during World War II, remember history, and remain vigilant for the future.

President Han further stated that in a civil society, political stances may differ and ideologies may diverge, but respect for history and human rights should always remain unwavering. In addition to paying tributes to the victims, both leaders and ordinary citizens in society share the responsibility to listen to the voices of survivors and victims, and to take action to prevent any repetition of such atrocities against humanity.

President Han also mentioned that since the establishment of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, it has upheld the belief that “democracy and human rights are not only the common language among democratic nations but also universal values defended by the global democratic alliance.” Through today’s commemorative event, President Han hoped that Taiwanese society could gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and learn from Israel and Germany’s collective effort in confronting such historical tragedy and preventing history from repeating itself. Finally, President Han extended his utmost welcome to the visiting members of the Israeli Knesset and sincerely wished for enduring peace in the world.

The event continued with remarks delivered by Andreas Hofem, Deputy Director-General of the German Institute Taipei; Maya Yaron, ISECO Representative; and President Lai Ching-Te. Finally, all guests were invited on stage for a group photo. The event lasted approximately 50 minutes and concluded on a poignant note, leaving a strong educational and historical impact.