The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme is celebrating its 30th anniversary from 27 October – 5 November with the theme, Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies.

The celebrations were launched on World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (27 October) with a Global Symposium of the 30th Anniversary of the Memory of the World Programme, held online and at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

This Symposium brought together colleagues from the MoW programme’s International sub-committees, National and Regional Memory of the World Committees, the International Centre for Documentary Heritage, and from partner professional associations.

Speakers shared updates from the work of the committees which explored how documentary heritage and the MoW programme can promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies and foster understanding and dialogue across cultures.

The Commemorative Statement

An IFLA representative speaks at UNESCO
An IFLA representative participates in the Global symposium: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Memory of the World Programme

IFLA was honoured to have been invited to close the Global Symposium by launching a Commemorative Statement on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Memory of the World Programme. This statement embraces the theme: “Your window to the world: Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies”.

Read the statement here: The 30th anniversary of the Memory of the World Programme: a commemorative statement.

It is a joint work between the Co-ordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations, the International Council on Archives, the International Council of Museums, and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and has been coordinated by the UNESCO International Centre for Documentary Heritage, hosted by the Republic of Korea.

Of particular interest, the statement suggests key issues which may define the use of documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies. These include celebrating documentary heritage of marginalized groups, highlighting gender and socio-economic inequalities of access and use, enhancing this material’s use as an education resource, building capacity for risk reduction, and increasing the protection of this material.

You are invited to use the statement as a point of reflection and inspiration for multiplying efforts to safeguard documentary heritage in all its diversity and take a stand to help it fulfil its cultural and educational purposes.

Get Involved

Have you organised an event to celebrate Memory of the World and/or World Day for Audiovisual Heritage?

IFLA would be delighted to receive more information about exhibitions, educational and cultural programming, or other events at your library which explore how documentary heritage can help promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies and foster multiculturalism, multilingualism, and dialogue.

Contact: Claire McGuire (claire.mcguire@ifla.org)