Documentary Heritage Without Borders: Ensuring Accessible Collective Memory for All
Documentary heritage encompasses a variety of documents such as manuscripts, books, maps, rock inscriptions and audiovisual materials. It forms the unwavering foundation of our collective memory, a treasure trove of stories, knowledge, and culture that weave a luminous tapestry across time and space.
As a public good, this documentary heritage should be accessible to all鈥攂eyond geographical borders, economic constraints, and societal barriers. Its digital accessibility holds unparalleled promise, illuminating the past, enriching our historical consciousness, and forging a thread of connection among people globally by fostering a shared understanding of our common history.
In 2024, UNESCO and the Khalili Foundation launched a joint project, aiming at digitally preserving the documentary heritage inscribed on the Memory of the World (MoW) International Register by providing data on MoW documentary heritage on Wikimedia Foundation platforms. Building on UNESCO鈥檚 commitment to open access to knowledge and information, the project enhances the accessibility of documentary heritage for all, fostering global understanding and democratising access to information.
Achievements
written in more than 15 languages
for a better integration across Wikimedia platforms
such as gender equality, indigenous peoples, and social significance spotlighted to enhance visibility
The Memory of the World Programme
The UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme aims to guard the world鈥檚 documentary heritage against collective amnesia, facilitating its full preservation particularly in areas affected by conflict or natural disaster. The Programme鈥檚 vision is that the world鈥檚 documentary heritage belongs to all and should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance. The Programme enhances public awareness about the significant of documentary heritage among the wider public.
The Khalili Foundation
Sir David Khalili, a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, stands as a prominent advocate for promoting peace, unity, and mutual respect globally. His philanthropic and humanitarian contributions, carried out through the Khalili Foundation, have received international acclaim. For over thirty years, the Foundation has supported initiatives aimed at fostering intercultural understanding, contributing to projects that leverage art, culture, and education to bring people together. Thebetween the Khalili Foundation and UNESCO鈥檚 Memory of the World Programme will democratise the world鈥檚 cultural knowledge and makes our shared documentary heritage a true public good.