TWO Southampton universities are set to mark national Holocaust and Genocide Memorial Day this month.

Hosted by Solent University, a commemorative event organised by the Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations, University of Southampton will take place to mark the day.

Taking place on January 27 each year, the annual event is a national commemoration and remembrance of victims of national, ethnic, racial, and/or religious persecution.

It commemorates all people murdered in genocide and this year, the chosen theme is ‘One Day’ which will see individuals encouraged to choose One Day in history of genocide and learn about that day.

The University of Southampton and Solent University this year will mark the Armenian Genocide (1915–1916) in which approximately 1.5 million Armenians were murdered by Ottoman Turks during the First World War.

Southampton’s HMD event will take place in the Palmerston Lecture Theatre at Solent University on January 26 from 6pm to 8pm and is non-ticketed and free to attend.

The evening will feature a talk by Professor Donald Bloxham (University of Edinburgh) on British response to the Armenian genocide, as well as a theatrical performance on the Holocaust by students from Solent University.

Southampton school pupils’ reflections from outreach workshops will be shared and there will also be an exhibition and stalls related to HMD.

On January 27, the City of Southampton will also receive an oak tree from the Association for Jewish Refugees to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the AJR and Southampton’s role in receiving refugees fleeing Nazism in the 1930s and 40s.