"Because of the denial, I started speaking," the 81-year-old told Cybercast News Service on Friday. "Before that, I didn't speak because of my family, but now I felt like I had to," she said.
Friedman is a volunteer at the U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum, where on Friday she joined other survivors lighting candles and observing a moment of silence to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On Jan. 27, 1945, the allies liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.
Thirty-three ambassadors and 10 other diplomats took part in the event.
"Being here today, it is so gratifying to see and to observe that people are honoring the memories," Friedman said.
Prompted by Iran's hosting last month of a conference at which the Holocaust was questioned, the Polish-born survivor said she has been sharing her story at conferences across the U.S. and plans to continue doing so, in a bid to raise awareness.
"Countries that deny the Holocaust are denying the truth and you can't deny the truth," said Arthur Berger, an organizer of the event, and the museum's director of external affairs.
"Ask any of the survivors that went through it, they can tell you it happened," he said.
Also Friday, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution that condemns denials of the Holocaust. The decision was taken by consensus, and Iran disassociated itself from it. U.S. officials cited in wire reports said ambassadors of at least 22 nations were not present in the assembly hall.
"Every country should have the respect to stand up and seek out that truth, instead of denying it," said Berger.
The resolution "condemns without any reservation any denial of the Holocaust" and "urges all member states unreservedly to reject any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, or any activities to this end."
A group of non-governmental agencies wrote to the United Nations Friday, urging U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other top officials to mark the Holocaust Memorial Day "by strongly rebuking Iran's campaign of Holocaust denial."
"Its threats cannot be ignored. Otherwise, the promise of 'Never again' may ring hollow, yet again," said the groups, which included Freedom House and U.N. Watch.
The U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum held events all day Saturday, featuring guest speakers and with some survivors present.
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