UNESCO adopts the Universal Declaration on Archives

UNESCO adopts the Universal Declaration on Archives

In the one of the most significant developments for archives at the international level for many years, the General Conference of UNESCO has unanimously endorsed the Universal Declaration on Archives proposed by the International Council on Archives.

It is the culmination of intense efforts led by Papa Momar Diop, the Ambassador of Senegal at UNESCO and the former National Archivist of Senegal. He has been supported by Jens Boel, Head Archivist at UNESCO, and activists in the ICA network throughout the world.

“This landmark decision is an important step in improving public understanding of archives”, says the International Council of Archives in a news release. “The Declaration emphasizes the key role of archives in administrative transparency and democratic accountability, as well as the preservation of collective social memory.”

The first version of the Declaration was written by archivists in Québec in 2007. It has been many stimulating debates before it was approved in September 2010. Since then the international archival community has worked to have the Declaration adopted by UNESCO.

“The challenge now is to use the Declaration to maximum effect, so that archives shake off outdated perceptions of their role and finally take their rightful place as a major player at heart of public administration and the center of social memory,” says Jens Boel of UNESCO.

The Universal Declaration on Archives

Archives record decisions, actions and memories. Archives are a unique and irreplaceable heritage passed from one generation to another. Archives are managed from creation to preserve their value and meaning. They are authoritative sources of information underpinning accountable and transparent administrative actions. They play an essential role in the development of societies by safeguarding and contributing to individual and community memory. Open access to archives enriches our knowledge of human society, promotes democracy, protects citizens’ rights and enhances the quality of life.

To this effect, we recognize

• the unique quality of archives as authentic evidence of administrative, cultural and intellectual activities and as a reflection of the evolution of societies;
• the vital necessity of archives for supporting business efficiency, accountability and transparency, for protecting citizens rights, for establishing individual and collective memory, for understanding the past, and for documenting the present to guide future actions; the diversity of archives in recording every area of human activity;
• the multiplicity of formats in which archives are created including paper, electronic, audio visual and other types;
• the role of archivists as trained professionals with initial and continuing education, serving their societies by supporting the creation of records and by selecting, maintaining and making these records available for use;
• the collective responsibility of all - citizens, public administrators and decision-makers, owners or holders of public or private archives, and archivists and other information specialists - in the management of archives.

We therefore undertake to work together in order that

• appropriate national archival policies and laws are adopted and enforced;
• the management of archives is valued and carried out competently by all bodies, private or public, which create and use archives in the course of conducting their business;
• adequate resources are allocated to support the proper management of archives, including the employment of trained professionals;
• archives are managed and preserved in ways that ensure their authenticity, reliability, integrity and usability;
• archives are made accessible to everyone, while respecting the pertinent laws and the rights of individuals, creators, owners and users;
• archives are used to contribute to the promotion of responsible citizenship.

Source: UNESCO website

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