The UN General Assembly has been asked to hold a debate on the Holocaust and designate an international day in memory of the six million Jews who died at the hands of the Nazis.

The request, made by the US, Israel, Canada, Russia and Australia, asked the 191-nation assembly to put the matter on its agenda when its 60th anniversary session opens Sep 13.

It would be the first such debate during a regular UN assembly session in 60 years.

The four countries are asking the assembly to designate Jan 27 as a global Holocaust memorial day. It was on this day the Auschwitz death camp was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945.

The group also urged UN members to "develop educational programmes to inculcate future generations with the lessons of the Holocaust in order to help prevent future acts of genocide".

The debate would be part of the global promotion of human rights, the sponsors say.

In January, the General Assembly for the first time held a commemorative service for the liberation of Nazi concentration camps, as the UN marked 60 years since the end of World War II.