UNESCO Should Help Libraries and Archives in Iraq UNESCO, Paris 22-24 April 2003

Intergovernmental Council Says Strong support to UNESCO's position and action regarding the events in Iraq, particularly as regards to libraries and archives, was given by the representatives of 26 countries around the world, who met in Paris on 22-24 April 2003 for a meeting of the Intergovernmental Council for UNESCO's Information for All Programme.

The Council requested UNESCO to pay particular attention to libraries and archives as they are "essential parts of the rich heritage of Iraq".

Council members also said that strong attention must be given to governmental records as they are "vital for the functioning of public administration and for the protection of the rights of Iraqi citizens". In an unanimously adopted resolution (text below), the Council invited UNESCO to cooperate with the competent non-governmental organizations such as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the International Council on Archives (ICA) and the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) in order to "safeguard, preserve, reconstruct and develop libraries and archives" in Iraq and to "further develop an information and knowledge based society".

The Council also examined two international standard setting instruments, namely the "Draft Recommendation concerning the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace" and the "Draft Charter on the Preservation of the Digital Heritage" and approved UNESCO's actions in preparation of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Several programme management issues were also on the agenda.

Related links
UNESCO and Iraq: http://www.unesco.org/iraq
UNESCO's Information for All Programme: http:/www.unesco.org/webworld/ifap

Contact
Axel Plathe, UNESCO, Information Society Division

1. Having taken note of the declarations of the Director-General and the decision of the 166th Session of the Executive Board concerning the events in Iraq;
2. Observes that they adequately reflect the principles and responsibilities of UNESCO in its fields of competence;
3. Supports the declarations of the Director General as well as his actions in all fields of competence of UNESCO, particularly in the area of the safeguarding of the cultural heritage in Iraq;
4. Requests the Director-General, in doing so, to
1. Pay particular attention to libraries and archives as they are essential parts of the rich heritage of Iraq and to governmental records as they are vital for the functioning of public administration and for the protection of the rights of Iraqi citizens;
2. Cooperate with the competent non-governmental organizations such as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the International Council on Archives (ICA) and the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) in his actions to safeguard, preserve, reconstruct and develop libraries and archives in Iraq and to further develop an information and knowledge based society.
3. Urge all countries to take immediate steps to
   monitor the trade in historical documents, and to call on all archives, libraries and museums, together with antiquities dealers and collectors worldwide to report all items proposed to them which they suspect may have been looted from Iraq.

Version française disponible ultérieurement - Also published at / Publié également à http://www.unesco.org/webworld

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