Monday marked a unique day for a Sullivan County leader. 

"Thank God for this country that took my parents in, otherwise I wouldn't be here, right? So because of their history, because of the history of my father and his family, just because I'm Ukrainian, and knowing this information, I have to promote this information," said Sullivan County Legislature Vice Chair Nadia Rajsz. 

Rajsz says International Human Rights Day is a reminder of the atrocities we've seen over the years that aren't always talked about — like the Holodomor.

"Through a carefully orchestrated mass collectivization effort, the Soviet regime imposed unreachable grain quotas upon the Ukrainian people. Confiscated all food stuffs, and even sealed Ukraine's borders," said Rajsz.

Attendees learned that millions died from 1932 to 1933 under Joseph Stalin's regime. Some like Sackett Lake resident Michele Russell did not hear about Holodomor until now, and say it's important for people of all ages to know what happened. 

"It's the little ones that need to learn. It's great for us to know, and you learn something new every day as they say, and I just did. But I think it's important for the kids to learn. The foundation is what's key for things to not repeat, for history to not repeat," said Russell. 

Officials labeled knowledge one of the most important tools in protecting human rights. 

"But today we see more things around the world repeating itself. We can't allow history to repeat itself when we know what the impact is on people, and that's the importance of sharing this type of information," said Sullivan County Human Rights Commission Executive Director Ari Mir-Pontier.