The world's documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved and protected for all and, with due recognition of cultural mores and practicalities, should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance. 

The Memory of the World Programme aims to:

  • Facilitate preservation of the world's documentary heritage, particularly in areas affected by conflict and/or natural disaster
  • Enable universal access to documentary heritage worldwide
  • Enhance public awareness about the significant of documentary heritage among the wider public
74 new entries on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register
Conference: Innovating Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in AlUla and Saudi Arabia

29 - 30 April 2025

Preserving Documentary Heritage in AlUla
UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize
Memory of the World International Register
570
Memory of the World inscriptions

on the International Register since 1995

Our Stories

How a Literary Masterpiece Inspired an All-Women’s Expedition to the Himalayas
Preserving documentary heritage of the Mekong region

Unesco Memory of the World - Why Documentary Heritage Matters

In this animation film the Memory of the World Committee of the Netherlands shows the importance of documentary heritage and the rationale behind Unesco's Memory of the World Programme.

The film was created by Studio Noord (www.studionoord.nl | CC BY-NC-ND). It was commissioned by the Memory of the World Commitee of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Commission for Unesco. Images have been used of documents that have a Memory of the World designation. The Netherlands MoW Committee wishes to thank the affiliated institutions for making these images available for this film.

Unesco Memory of the World - Why Documentary Heritage Matters

UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize

UNESCO created the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize in 2004 to promote the preservation of documentary heritage as a common heritage of humanity and to encourage its wide accessibility. The UNESCO/Jikji Prize is named after the Buljo jikji simche yojeol, the oldest existing book of movable metal print in the world, on the Memory of the World Register. The prize is awarded to individuals, institutions, or non-governmental organizations that have made a significant contribution to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage.

UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize

Preservation of Amadou Hamp?té B?'s Documentary Treasures - Memory of the World Programme

The preservation of Amadou Hamp?té B?'s manuscripts is safeguarded by the Amadou Hamp?té B? Foundation, with assistance from the Republic of Korea and UNESCO through the Memory of the World Programme. Mrs Roukiatou B?, Director of the Foundation, recounts the origins and key conservation stages of these invaluable documents, as well as the project's prospects aimed at preserving, disseminating, and promoting Amadou Hamp?té B?’s cultural heritage.

Preservation of Amadou Hamp?té B?'s Documentary Treasures - Memory of the World Programme

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