Memory of the World Programme
Memory of the World Programme
5.1 NOMINATIONS
5.1.1 Nomination Process:Nominations of documentary
heritage for the Memory of the World Register may be made by any
person or organization, including governmental and non-governmental
organizations. However, nominations are encouraged by or through
the relevant Regional or National Committee, should one exist.
5.1.2 Nominations must be lodged with the Secretariat
providing certain minimum information and following the structure
of the Nomination Form as described below.
5.1.3 When received, the nomination will be considered
by the Secretariat and:
(a) if it appears that the minimum level of information
required has not been provided, the Secretariat may seek more
information; and
(b) if the nomination has not been provided by or
through the relevant Regional or National Committee, should one
exist, the Secretariat will provide a copy for comment.
5.1.4 When the minimum level of information is available
and the relevant Regional or National Committee has been consulted,
the nomination will be presented to the International Advisory
Committee for consideration.
5.1.5 Priority Nominations: The International
Advisory Committee will give priority to:
(a) nominations made by or through Regional or National
Committees; or
(b) nominations made by any person or organization,
including governmental and non-governmental organizations, for
documentary heritage in urgent need which can be effectively assisted
by the Programme.
5.2 NOMINATIONS INITIATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
5.2.1 While it is expected that nominations for the
Memory of the World Register will normally be made through Regional
or National Committees, there may be occasions when it is appropriate
for the International Advisory Committee to initiate the process
of nominating documentary heritage for the Register. For example,
in some cases there may be no relevant Regional or National Committee.
5.2.2 If the International Advisory Committee decides
to initiate a nomination for the Register, it will consult with
the owner and custodian of the documentary heritage and, should
one exist, the relevant Regional or National Committee.
5.3 INFORMATION ABOUT NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE
5.3.1 Nomination Form and Minimum Information:
In order to make an informed decision about a nomination for the
Register, the International Advisory Committee needs a minimum
level of information about the nominated documentary heritage.
The minimum information required is indicated in the Nomination
Form reproduced as Appendix B.
5.3.2 If nominations are made without the minimum
level of information required, the International Advisory Committee
or Secretariat may request further information. Until such information
is available the International Advisory Committee may defer any
further action on the nomination.
5.3.3 Requests for Information: The International
Advisory Committee or Secretariat may request information about
nominated documentary heritage from any source including the nominator,
owner, custodian, the relevant Regional or National Committee
(should one exist), or other knowledgeable party.
5.4 SELECTION ASSESSMENT
5.4.1 Nominations are to be assessed for the Memory
of the World Register by the International Advisory Committee
against the Selection Criteria for the Register.
5.4.2 The International Advisory Committee shall
ensure that registration decisions are made with due regard to
appropriate expertise or knowledge about the values of nominated
documentary heritage.
5.4.3 A key part of the process to assess any nomination
is a contextual assessment of comparable documentary heritage.
Memory of the Region/Nation Registers, where they exist, should
provide a basis for such contextual assessments.
5.4.4 In reaching a decision, the International Advisory
Committee may seek the views of any person or organization with
expertise or knowledge about the values of nominated documentary
heritage. In particular, this may include the Commissions on Preservation
and Access (American and European), FIAF, FIAT/IFTA, FID, IAML,
IASA, ICA, ICCROM, ICOM, IFLA, IIC and other relevant organizations.
5.4.5 If the International Advisory Committee decides
to recommend registration of documentary heritage to the Director-General
of UNESCO, it will inform the relevant Regional or National Committee,
should one exist, owner and custodian of its decision.
5.5 REMOVAL FROM REGISTER
5.5.1 Need for the Ability to Remove Documentary
Heritage from the Register: Documentary heritage must have
demonstrated significance to be considered eligible for inclusion
on the Memory of the World Register. However, changing circumstances
may require the reassessment of the significance of some documentary
heritage. For example, some documentary heritage may be severely
damaged or destroyed, or relevant new information may be revealed.
These and other circumstances may require a reassessment of registration
which could lead to removal from the Register.
5.5.2 Criteria for Removal: Documentary heritage
shall be removed from the Memory of the World Register if, for
whatever reason, it no longer meets the Selection Criteria for
the Register.
5.5.3 Removal Process: The process for considering
the possible removal of documentary heritage from the Register
is as follows.
(a) Proposals for the reassessment of the significance
of registered documentary heritage may be made by any person or
organization to the International Advisory Committee, or by the
International Advisory Committee itself.
(b) The International Advisory Committee will decide
whether the proposal seems justified and what further steps are
necessary, if any, to establish whether the documentary heritage
still meets the Selection Criteria for the Register. Such steps
may include commissioning an independent reassessment from a person
or organization knowledgeable about the Selection Criteria and
the significance of the documentary heritage to be reassessed.
(c) If the International Advisory Committee considers
a reassessment is justified, it will seek the views of the relevant
Regional or National Committee, should one exist, or any other
competent party such as a professional NGO, on whether the documentary
heritage meets the Selection Criteria. In addition, the International
Advisory Committee will provide the Regional or National Committee
with details of any reassessment carried out under (b) and seek
its comment before any further consideration by the International
Advisory Committee.
(d) If the International Advisory Committee considers
a reassessment is justified, it will seek the views of the owner
and custodian of the documentary heritage on how the documentary
heritage meets the Selection Criteria. In addition, the International
Advisory Committee will provide the owner and custodian with details
of any reassessment carried out under (b) and seek their comment
before any further consideration by the International Advisory
Committee.
(e) If the proposal does not seem justified then
the International Advisory Committee may decide to take no further
action.
(f) Following the reassessment of values and consultation
with the relevant Regional or National Committee, should one exist,
owner and custodian, the International Advisory Committee will
consider whether the documentary heritage still meets the Selection
Criteria for the Register. If it does not meet the Selection Criteria
then the International Advisory Committee will recommend to the
Director-General of UNESCO that the documentary heritage be removed
from the Memory of the World Register.
(g) If the International Advisory Committee decides
to recommend removal of documentary heritage from the Register,
it will inform the relevant Regional or National Committee, should
one exist, and the owner and custodian of its decision.
(h) The Director-General of UNESCO's decision will be passed on to the appropriate body.
