News

UNESCO to hold its third Memory of the World Global Policy Forum

UNESCO will consolidate the gains in policy development and capacity building for the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage through a new three-year project, which includes the hosting of its third Memory of the World Global Policy Forum in November 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.
Memory of the World

A new project with a broader scope of activities

Funded by Japan, the new three-year project aims to further promote policy advocacy and awareness-raising for preservation of documentary heritage through global partnerships, as well as to build capacity among memory institutions, especially in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across Africa, Asia as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.

More specifically, at the heart of the project is the integration of disaster risk reduction into the policies of memory institutions for a more sustainable preservation of documentary heritage. This builds on the pilot project initiated in 2018 under the title “Preservation of Documentary Heritage Through Policy Development and Capacity-Building.”

Implemented by the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme, the new project includes various innovative activities, such as:

  • A new series of “MoW Global Policy Forums” that will adopt a hybrid format to increase participation virtually, in addition to onsite participants.
  • “MoW Regional Policy Dialogues” to support national advocacy for preservation policies.
  • Using the Memory of the World network of national committees for more effective networking and national advocacy.
  • Creation of an alarm system to alert memory institutions and experts to possible disaster risks in Latin America and Caribbean countries.
  • Comprehensive capacity building activities in Asia and the Pacific, including creation of a toolkit and expert network to facilitate this work.
  • Capacity building workshops for memory institutions to develop disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
  • Capacity building and operational support for digitization of documentary heritage.

Leveraging the third Memory of the World Global Policy Forum

The Global Policy Forum stands out as a flagship activity of the project, bringing together memory institutions, policy-makers and other stakeholders all over the world to discuss how documentary heritage can be better safeguarded through global partnerships.

Against this background, this year’s edition of the Forum is scheduled for 21-22 November 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. For the first time, in a demonstration of greater partnership and solidarity, the Forum will be co-hosted with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT).  

The overarching theme of the event is “Enhancing International Cooperation to better Safeguard Documentary Heritage at Risk.”

In addressing this theme, participants:

  1. Increase their knowledge and understanding about safeguarding documentary heritage at risk of natural and man-made hazards by taking advantage of existing and potential international cooperation mechanisms;
  1. Learn about new possible initiatives/projects/funds aimed at enhancing international cooperation for effective safeguarding of documentary heritage at risk;
  1. Contribute towards solidifying global partnerships for safeguarding documentary heritage at risk.

More information about the third edition of the Global Policy Forum is available in the Flyer, Concept Note and draft programme.

Online registration for participation will start from September and be announced on the UNESCO MoW website.

Set up in 1992, the Memory of the World Programme serves as a vehicle for identifying documentary heritage of world significance, enabling its preservation, and promoting universal access to it.