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UNESCO visits TRT-4 archives, which hold documents recognized by the Memory of the World programme in Rio Grande do Sul
Among these are records recognized by UNESCO's Memory of the World programme. A mission from UNESCO's Heritage Emergency Fund visited the damaged place where these historically valuable documents are stored in Porto Alegre to support their recovery.
The General Archives of the 4th Regional Labour Court (TRT-4), which includes lawsuits preserved by the Memorial of Labour Justice of Rio Grande do Sul - a collection recognized by the Memory of the World Register in 2014 - was severely affected by the recent floods. Among the approximately 3 million archived lawsuits, roughly 1 million were submerged during the flooding, representing a potentially significant loss to Brazil's legal memory.
In response to this emergency, TRT-4 has established a task force dedicated to document recovery. The affected suits have undergone a rigorous drying and disinfection process before being digitized, ensuring the preservation of their information.
Marlova Jovchelovitch Noleto, Director and Representative of UNESCO in Brazil, visited the archives where the documents are stored. She listened to the reports of TRT-4's President, Judge Ricardo Martins Costa, and magistrates and staff on how the flood affected the archives and how they have carried out their recovery efforts.
The collection of labour cases in Rio Grande do Sul, recognized by UNESCO as part of the Memory of the World Register, holds inestimable value. The collective and documented memory of the world's peoples constitutes a significant part of the world's cultural heritage that must be preserved and protected to safeguard humanity's shared memory. Through the mission of UNESCO's Heritage Emergency Fund, we seek to collaborate in the recovery of the heritage affected by the floods in the state and to aid in the prevention and mitigation of damage caused by climate disasters, supporting the excellent work carried out by the 4th Region of TRT.
The President of TRT-4 highlighted the importance of UNESCO's mission and the actions taken by the Court to safeguard and recover valuable documents.
We are custodians of a heritage that belongs to humanity, which is our collection of lawsuits designated by the Memory of the World Register. The conservation of this collection is a priority for the Court. UNESCO experts have seen our work in recovering the suits, including establishing a laboratory. This work is serving as an example for other disaster situations worldwide.
The UNESCO team also included the international UNESCO specialists Samuel Franco and Andrea Richards; Isabel de Paula, Coordinator of Culture at UNESCO in Brazil; Mariana Salvadori, Project Officer at UNESCO in Brazil; and Eneida Braga, National Culture Specialist at UNESCO in Brazil.
Based on the mission's assessment, UNESCO will prepare a detailed report with specific recommendations for recovering and preserving the affected documents. Additionally, UNESCO is planning a training agenda for the institutions involved in this mission in Rio Grande do Sul to strengthen archive management and conservation practices. The visit underscores TRT-4 and UNESCO's shared commitment to preserving and protecting the world's documentary heritage, especially in emergencies.
About the Specialists
International specialists Andrea Richards and Samuel Franco have participated in numerous cultural emergencies worldwide.
Andrea has supported crisis management in cultural emergencies caused by climate change, including in response to Cyclone Freddy in Malawi, Hurricane Lisa in Belize, Hurricane Maria in Dominica, and Hurricane Irma in Antigua and Barbuda.
Samuel has worked in cultural emergencies across various continents, serving as President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Guatemala. He has also been the president of ICOM Latin America and the Caribbean and is a member of the ICOM Standing Committee for Disaster Risk Management.
National specialist Eneida Braga has vast experience in public management, focusing on museums and cultural facilities and advocating for the interests of Brazilian museums. She also contributed to developing the National Museum Policy (PNM), drafting the Museum Statute, and establishing the Brazilian Institute of Museums (IBRAM). She has also been the chief commissioner for Cultural Heritage in the National Commission for Cultural Incentives.
