The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced the addition of 74 new elements to its Memory of the World Register, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and archives from the famous British naturalist Charles Darwin. These new inscriptions demonstrate the rich and diverse documentary heritage of universal value, presented by 72 countries and four international organizations.
The newly added documents cover a wide range of topics, from the scientific revolution to the contributions of women throughout history, as well as key moments of multilateralism. Fourteen of the new collections specifically focus on scientific documentary heritage. The Register includes a variety of formats, such as books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, and recordings, which testify to the common heritage of humanity. However, many of these objects are extremely fragile and at risk of deterioration.
Guilherme Canela, Director of UNESCO’s Digital Inclusion and Policies and Digital Transformation Division, emphasized the importance of the Register, comparing it to the periodic table of elements in its role in understanding the human legacy in various fields. This initiative aims to create a diverse “map” that reflects everything produced by humanity in areas such as literature, history, science, and philosophy.
Among the most notable inscriptions is the Itḥāf Al Mahbūb, which highlights the contribution of the Arab world to astronomy during the first millennium. Additionally, archives of historical figures like Friedrich Nietzsche and Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen are included, whose contributions have left enduring marks in their respective fields. The register also addresses the memory of slavery, with contributions from various countries, as well as archives of influential women who have traditionally been underrepresented in the cultural and educational context.
This new push towards the preservation of documentary heritage is part of a program established by UNESCO in 1992, with the goal of ensuring that collections and invaluable documents are properly preserved and accessible for future generations.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish