Today marks the 79th anniversary of the start of the Nanjing Massacre. The atrocity was committed by Japanese troops against Chinese residents in Nanjing for six weeks from December 13, 1937.
The massacre is remembered not just in China, but around the world. The legislature in the Canadian province of Ontario is considering designating December 13 as Nanjing Holocaust Remembrance Day. Soo Wong, the lawmaker who led the motion, said residents should have the opportunity to learn about the massacre at Nanjing.
"It will provide an opportunity for all Ontarians, especially the Asian community, to gather, remember, and honor the victims and families affected by the Nanjing Massacre, an atrocity where over 200,000 Chinese civilians and soldiers alike were indiscriminately killed in the Japanese capture of the city," said Wong.
Soo Wong, Standing Committee member on the Legislative Assembly, states the case for designating December 13 as Nanjing Massacre Remembrance Day, in Ontario, Canada, on December 8. /Xinhua Photo
A version of the measure was unanimously approved in the Provincial Assembly during the second reading last Thursday. Ontario would become the first Western government to adopt such a day of remembrance if the act passes the third reading.
As Canada's most populous province, Ontario accounts for nearly 40 percent of the country's population and is also home to one of the largest Asian populations in Canada.
Some Ontarians have direct relationships with victims and survivors of the Nanjing Massacre, Wong wrote in Bill 79, Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day Act, according to Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
As well as Canada’s efforts to commemorate the slaughter, French museum Memorial de Caen held an exhibition on the Nanjing Massacre in late October.
The Mémorial de Caen is a museum and war memorial dedicated to the causes and consequences of the Second World War. /Chemin de Mémoire Photo
Dedicated to the history of violence and major conflicts in the 20th century, the museum showcased the atrocities committed by the Japanese, Westerners who tried to rescue Chinese refugees and Western media reports about the massacre.
Organizers displayed over 270 photos and documents such as diaries and letters that recount the slaughter. The archives were gathered from diplomats, doctors and reporters.
Until December 15, the Memorial for Peace in Caen devoted an exhibition to the Nanjing Massacre. /Franceinfo Photo
"The number of Chinese people killed in the Second World War accounts for a large amount of the victims, and this is what Westerners don't really understand,” noted Stephane Grimaldi, curator of Memorial de Caen. “Therefore, here at this memorial exhibition, we're trying to reveal the truth.”
Attendees said the tragedy was horrifying and that the period shouldn't be forgotten. "Obviously, efforts must be made to publicize these historical documents as much as possible, especially to the younger generation,” said a visitor called Isabelle. “Young people also need to reconstitute the history with their own efforts."
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