Bearing Witness: A Reflection on the Auschwitz Exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum

By: Joy Cudjoe (1L)

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

On March 18, 2025, the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) organized a visit to the powerful exhibit Auschwitz: Not Long Ago, Not Far Away at the Royal Ontario Museum. This exhibit, a sobering and deeply moving account of one of history’s darkest chapters, provided an unfiltered look at the Holocaust—the systematic extermination of six million Jewish people and millions of others by Nazi Germany. The visit was not only an educational experience but also a moment for deep reflection on the past, the present, and the continued relevance of remembrance in our contemporary world.

A Journey Through History

The exhibit was meticulously curated, offering a tour that detailed the events leading up to the Holocaust, its execution, and the aftermath. Walking through the dimly lit space, I was guided by a headset that provided detailed explanations of the artifacts on display. Each item—suitcases left behind by deportees, striped uniforms worn by concentration camp prisoners, children’s shoes—spoke to the unfathomable suffering endured by victims of Nazi terror. There was an eerie stillness as visitors moved through the exhibit, taking in the remnants of a genocide that occurred less than a century ago.

Despite knowing the history of the Holocaust, witnessing these artifacts firsthand made it painfully real. Seeing personal belongings of those murdered at Auschwitz underscored the sheer scale of loss. One of the most harrowing moments for me was looking at the mugshot photographs of prisoners who, in a matter of days or hours, were reduced to statistics in the Nazi death machine. The experience was emotionally exhausting, yet necessary.

The Role of Memory in Preventing Atrocities

The Holocaust was a defining event in human history that led directly to the development of many foundational human rights instruments and institutions. The Genocide Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Refugee Convention were all responses to the horrors of Nazi persecution. And yet, as I walked through the exhibit, I couldn’t help but reflect on the ways in which history is repeating itself. The world today remains fraught with war, persecution, and human rights abuses.

The quote at the end of the exhibit, attributed to Piotr M. A. Cywiński in 2024, encapsulated the necessity of remembrance: "Remembrance has helped us shape the post-war world. Today, we witness how our efforts to build a more just and humane world are under threat. We remember, so we are aware of what we must protect and nurture. Remembering gives us an awareness of what none of us can remain indifferent to." This statement resonated deeply, particularly in the context of ongoing global conflicts and rising authoritarianism.

The Urgency of Remembrance in Today’s World

We live in an era where genocide and mass atrocities are not relics of the past. The war in Ukraine, the crisis in Gaza, the persecution of ethnic minorities in various parts of the world—these events serve as stark reminders that the lessons of the Holocaust have not been fully learned. The resurgence of fascist ideologies, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia in many parts of the world, particularly in the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election and the global far-right movement, further illustrates the fragility of democracy and human rights protections.

Exhibits like Auschwitz: Not Long Ago, Not Far Away serve as essential tools for public education and consciousness-raising. They remind us that genocide does not occur in a vacuum—it begins with dehumanization, propaganda, and the erosion of democratic values. The Holocaust did not start with gas chambers; it started with rhetoric, laws that segregated and persecuted, and the silent complicity of bystanders. Recognizing these patterns in the present is crucial if we are to prevent history from repeating itself.

Reflections and Responsibilities

As law students and future practitioners in the field of human rights, our responsibility extends beyond academic engagement. We must be vigilant against the forces that seek to undermine the international human rights system, and we must also advocate for policies that uphold the dignity and security of all people. This exhibit was a stark reminder that law alone is not enough; legal instruments must be paired with collective moral courage and political will.

Walking out of the exhibit, I carried with me a renewed sense of duty—not only to remember but to act. The stories of those who perished in Auschwitz are not distant echoes; they are calls to action. If we truly honor their memory, we must commit ourselves to defending human rights, combating discrimination, and resisting the forces that threaten the very principles upon which a just society is built.

History has shown us what happens when we look away. It is now up to us to ensure that we do not.