The resolution stressed the importance of learning from the Holocaust

The resolution rejects any denial that the mass murder of six million Jews and other victims by Nazi Germany during World War II took place.

It stresses the duty to remember and educate future generations about the lessons of the genocide.

Assembly President Jan Eliasson said the Holocaust was a "unifying historic warning around which we must rally".

The resolution, proposed by Australia, Canada, Israel, Russia and the US, was adopted by consensus.

Israel's UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman thanked the assembly for approving "this unprecedented resolution".

"The UN bears a special responsibility to ensure that... this tragedy will forever stand as a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice," he said.

Stephen Smith, chair of the UK's Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, welcomed the announcement that the UN had "recognised the importance of the Holocaust and its salutary lesson".

"Hopefully the UN will also be resolved in exercising its will in preventing the repetition of genocide in Darfur," he said.

"There is no more meaningful act of memorial than applying the lessons of the Holocaust in practice."