Memory of the World Programme: Difference between revisions

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{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}

[[File:Unesco Memory of the World Logo (English).png|thumb|120x120px|Logo of the Memory of the World Programme]]

[[UNESCO]]'s '''Memory of the World''' ('''MoW''') '''Programme''' is an international initiative that recognises documentary heritage of global importance. It aims to safeguard the [[documentary heritage]] of humanity against [[collective amnesia]], neglect, decay over time and climatic conditions, as well as deliberate destruction.<ref name=strategy>{{cite web|title=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme: The Asia-Pacific Strategy |url=https://en.unesco.org/programme/mow|publisher=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme |access-date=2017-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050228192535/http://www.geocities.com/seapavaa/whatsnew/memory.htm |archive-date=2005-02-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It calls for the [[historic preservation|preservation]] of valuable [[archival holdings]], library collections, and private individual compendia all over the world for posterity, the reconstitution of dispersed or displaced documentary heritage, and increased accessibility to, and disseminationpublic awareness of, these items.<ref name=strategy /><ref name=official>{{cite web| title=Official website |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world |publisher=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme |access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref><ref name=2003_memory>{{cite web| title= Twenty-three new inscriptions on Memory of the World Register of Documentary Collections | date=2003-09-01 |url= http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php@URL_ID=14264&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |publisher=UNESCO Press |access-date=2009-09-06}}</ref>

Following the establishment of the internationalMemory of the World International registerRegister, UNESCO and the Memory of the World Programme have encouraged the creation of autonomous national and regional organizationscommittees as well as national and regional registers which focus on documentary heritage of great regional or national importance, but not necessarily of global importance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=MoW Committees |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/committees?hub=1081 |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>

==Overview==

The Memory of the World International Register is a compendiumlist of documents, manuscripts, oral traditions, audio-visual materials, library, and archival holdings of universal value.<ref name=strategy /> InscriptionWith the inscription on the registerInternational Register, the Memory of the World Programme aims to highlight the documentary heritage’s exceptional value. It aims to encourage memory institutions to raise awareness about their documentary heritage and to improve conservation of the documentary heritage by calling upon the program's networks of experts to exchange information and raise resources for the preservation, digitization, and dissemination of the material.<ref name=2003_memory /> The program also uses technology to provide wider accessibility and diffusion of information about the items inscribed on the register.<ref name=2003_memory />

AnyAccording to the General Guidelines of the Memory of the World Programme, any organization or individual can nominate a documentary item for inscription on the registerInternational Register via [[Member states of UNESCO|UNESCO Member States]] through their [[National Commissions for UNESCO|National Commission for UNESCO]] or, in the absence of a National Commission, the relevant government body in charge of relations with UNESCO, involving, if one exists, the relevant national MoW committee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=Memory of the World General Guidelines |url=https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/mow_general_guidelines_en.pdf |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref> Two proposals per UNESCO Member State are considered in each nomination cycle, joint nomination proposals from two or more UNESCO Member States are unlimited. DuringAll itsnominations meetings,undergo a multi-layered evaluation process conducted by the International Advisory CouncilCommittee (IAC) of the MoW Programme,<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=International Advisory Committee |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/iac-committee?hub=1081 |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref> composed of international experts, who operates independently from the UNESCO Secretariat. During its meetings, the IAC examines the full documentation of the item's description, origin, world significance, and contemporary state of conservation and other criteria for admissibility and inscription contained in the General Guidelines. The IAC recommends to the [[UNESCO#Executive Board|Executive Board of UNESCO]] the items proposed for inscription.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=UNESCO |title=General Guidelines of the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme |access-date=3 March 2025 |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000378405}}</ref>

==History==

In 1992, the program began as a way to preserve and promote documentary heritage, whichmanuscripts, canmaps, be a singlerock documentinscriptions, acourt collectiondocuments, adiplomatic holdingexchanges orand an archival [[fonds]]more that isare deemed to be of such global significance as to transcend the boundaries of time and culture.<ref name=strategy /> This recorded memory reflects the diversity of languages, people, and cultures.<ref name=2005_memory>{{cite web| title= Twenty-nine new documentary collections inscribed on the Memory of the World Register | date=2005-06-21 |url= http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=28029&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |publisher=UNESCO Press |access-date=2009-09-06}}</ref> UNESCO, the world agency responsible for the protection of the world's [[cultural heritage|cultural]] and [[natural heritage]], realized the need to protect such fragile yet important component of cultural heritage. The Memory of the World Programme was established to preservefacilitate the preservation of, universal access to and digitizepublic awareness about humanity's documentary heritage.<ref name=2007_memory>{{cite web | title=Thirty-eight new inscriptions for Memory of the World Register | author=Jasmina Sopova | date=2007-06-20 | url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38423&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html | publisher=UNESCO Press | access-date=2009-09-06 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111132741/http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D38423%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html | archive-date=2009-11-11 }}</ref>

{{blockquote|People the world over are creating [memories] in forms that are less and less permanent—be it sound recordings, film, videotape, newsprint, photographs, or computer-based documents. It must be said that the output of the present century alone is probably greater than the total output of all previous centuries put together; and ironically and tragically, it is being lost faster than ever before. It is a tragedy indeed, for what is at stake is the recorded memory of mankind.|Dato’ Habibah Zon, Director-General of the National Archives of Malaysia|introduction from<br>''UNESCO MEMORY OF THE WORLD PROGRAMME: The Asia-Pacific Strategy'', 17 April 1999<ref name=strategy />}}

The program is administered by the International Advisory Committee (IAC), whose 14 members are appointed by the [[Director-General of UNESCO]].<ref name=strategy /><ref name=2003_memory /> The IAC is responsible for the formulation of major policies, including the technical, legal and financial framework for the program. Regular meetings were held by the IAC in its interim capacity beginning in 1993 to sustain the momentum gained by the program, culminating in the creation of the Memory of the World International Register during its second meeting in 1995,<ref name=strategy /><ref name="1997_report">{{cite web|title=Third Meeting of the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Programme, Tashkent, 29 September-1st October 1997: final report |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000109753 |date=October 1997|access-date=2025-06-17|publisher=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme}}</ref> with the inaugural batch of documents being inscribed on the register in 1997, after the statutes that created the IAC as a standing committee took effect.<ref name="1999_report">{{cite web|title=Fourth meeting of the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Programme, Vienna, 10-12 June 1999: final report |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000116830 |access-date=2025-06-17|publisher=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme|date=July 1999}}</ref> The IAC also maintains several subsidiary bodies:<ref name=IAC>{{cite web | title=International Advisory Committee | date= 2009-08-11 | url= http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2254&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html | archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20160311102614/http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2254&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html | url-status= dead | archive-date= 2016-03-11 | publisher= UNESCO Memory of the World Programme | access-date= 2009-12-09 }}</ref>

The IAC also maintains several subsidiary bodies:<ref name=IAC>{{cite web | title=International Advisory Committee | date= 2009-08-11 | url= http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2254&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html | archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20160311102614/http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2254&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html | url-status= dead | archive-date= 2016-03-11 | publisher= UNESCO Memory of the World Programme | access-date= 2009-12-09 }}</ref>

* ''Bureau'': Maintains an overview of the Programme between IAC meetings and makes tactical decisions in liaison with the Secretariat, reviews the use of the Memory of the World logo, and liaises with national Memory of the World committees and monitors their growth and operation.

* ''TechnicalThe Preservation Sub-Committee'': Develops, regularly revises and promulgates information guides on the preservation of documentary heritage, and offers advice on technical and preservation matters.

* ''Marketing Sub-Committee'': Develops strategies for awareness raising and for increasing financial support for Memory of the World, implements a marketing plan, and compiles and reviews guidelines for the use of the Memory of the World logo.

* ''Register Sub-Committee'': Oversees the assessment of nominations for the Memory of the World International Register and provides recommendations, with reasons, for their inscription or rejection to each meeting of the IAC.

* ''Education and Research Sub-committee'': Develops strategies and concepts for institutionalizing education and research on documentary heritage and helps developing innovative curricula and research on Memory of the World.

* ''The Secretariat at UNESCO:'' Provides support services to the International Advisory Committee (IAC) and its subsidiary bodies, and the general administration and monitoring of the Program. It is the contact point of the Program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=Secretariat |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/secretariat?hub=1081 |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>

* The Memory of the World Programme is implemented by UNESCO through ''regional and national committees''. These committees are autonomous from UNESCO and are composed of dedicated local heritage professionals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=MoW Committees |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/committees?hub=1081 |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>

[[Image:Declaration of Human Rights.jpg|thumb|The [[Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen]] (1789) was used to disseminate to the political community the first [[Constitution of France|French Constitution]].<ref name=rights_of_man>{{cite web| title= Original Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789–1791) |url= https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/original-declaration-rights-man-and-citizen-1789-1791 |publisher=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme |access-date=2025-03-03}}</ref>]]

==Memory of the World International Register==

The '''Memory of the World International Register''' is a compendiumlist of the world's documentary heritage with outstanding global significance – such as [[manuscript]]s, [[oral tradition]]s, audio-visual materials, and library and archive holdings.<ref name="strategy" /> It catalogues documentary heritage that has been recommended by the International Advisory Committee, and endorsed by the [[Director-General of UNESCO]], according to the selection criteria regarding "world significance and outstanding universal value."<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 December 2023 |title=Memory of the World: Documentary heritage treasures of Africa |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/memory-world |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250217100352/https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/memory-world |archive-date=2025-02-17 |access-date=2025-06-17 |publisher=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme |language=en}}</ref>

The first inscriptions on the internationalInternational registerRegister were made in 1997.<ref name="2003_memory" /><ref name="1997_report" /> The various properties in the register include recordings of [[folk music]]; [[ancient language]]s and [[phonetics]]; aged remnants of religious and secular manuscripts; collective lifetime works of renowned giants of literature; science and music; copies of landmark motion pictures and short films; and accounts documenting changes in the world's political, economic, and social stage.

As of April 2025, 570 pieces of documentary heritage had been inscribed in the registerInternational Register.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memory of the World |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme}}</ref>

The program is not without controversy. During the 2015 cycle, for example, there was a significant degree of conflict within East Asia, as registry with the MoW Program was becoming viewed as an approval of particular views of contested history, specifically with respect to the [[Nanjing Massacre]] and the [[comfort women]].<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last=Yamamoto |first=Mayumi |date=2016 |title=Heritage and Diplomacy: A Cultural Approach to UNESCO's Document Registry Program in East Asia |url=https://www.academia.edu/32367448 |journal=Annual Journal of Cultural Anthropology |volume=11 |access-date=May 26, 2022}}</ref>

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== National and regional registers ==

Some national orand regional officesMemory of UNESCOthe World committees maintain their own Memory of the World registers, highlighting documentary heritage of great national or regional importance. Examples include:

* [[Brazil Memory of the World Register]]

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* [[List of Memory of the World Documentary Heritage in the Philippines|Philippines Memory of the World Register]]

* [[UK Memory of the World Register]]

* Mexican National Register of the Memory of the World<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=National Register of the Memory of the World incorporates 14 new inscriptions |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/national-register-memory-world-incorporates-14-new-inscriptions |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>

* Asia Pacific Regional Register

* Latin America and the Caribbean regional register<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memory of the World - Latin America and the Caribbean - List |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/lac/list?hub=84793&f%5B0%5D=dataset_filters:fac53f70-c695-4269-b656-c1cedaeedc1b&sort_by=unesco_country_label&sort_order=ASC |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240901122956/https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/lac/list?hub=84793&f%5B0%5D=dataset_filters%3Afac53f70-c695-4269-b656-c1cedaeedc1b&sort_by=unesco_country_label&sort_order=ASC |archive-date=2024-09-01 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.unesco.org |language=en}}</ref>

The Asia Pacific Regional Register<ref>{{Cite web |last=Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific |title=MOWCAP Regional Register |url=https://www.mowcapunesco.org/core-activities/regional-register/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific}}</ref> and the Register for Latin America and the Caribbean<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=Regional Register |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/lac/regional-register |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref> have already honoured important documentary heritage of their regions, while the African Regional Register is currently being established.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Africa Regional Committee of the Memory of the World Programme (ARCMoW) |title=Africa Regional Committee of the Memory of the World Programme (ARCMoW) |url=https://arcmow.org/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=Africa Regional Committee of the Memory of the World Programme (ARCMoW)}}</ref> In the Asia-Pacific region, in 2014–2015, there were 18 member nations of [[MOWCAP]] (6 without national committees), while in 2016, there were 16 national MoW committees.<ref name=":0" />

In the Asia-Pacific region, in 2014–2015, there were 18 member nations of [[MOWCAP]] (6 without national committees), while in 2016, there were 16 national MoW committees.<ref name=":0" />

==''Jikji'' Prize==

[[Image:SelectedTeachingsofBuddhistSagesandSonMasters1377.jpg|thumb|The ''Jikji'' is the earliest known book printed with [[Movable type|movable metal type]] in 1377.]]

The ''Jikji'' Prize was established in 2004 by UNESCO<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/prizes/jikji?hub=1081 |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref> in cooperation with the South Korean government to further promote the objectives of the Memory of the World Programme, and to commemorate the 2001 inscription of the country's ''[[Jikji]]'' on the Register.<ref name=2005_report /><ref>{{citeCite web |urllast=http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=16050&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.htmlUNESCO |title=UNESCO/Jikji Memory ofAbout the World Prize |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |access-date=May 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060130185701/http://portalwww.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_IDprizes/jikji/about?hub=16050&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html915 |archiveaccess-date=January2025-06-23 30, 2006|website=UNESCO}}</ref> The award, which includes a cash prize of $30,000 from the Korean government, recognizes institutions that have contributed to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage.<ref name=2005_memory />

The prize has been awarded biannually since 2005 during the meeting of the IAC.<ref name=2005_memory />