The Memory of the World (MoW) Programme is implemented by UNESCO through a system of committees and support mechanisms operating at international, regional and national levels that conforms to the General Guidelines to Safeguard Documentary Heritage.
The International Advisory Committee (IAC) is the main body responsible for advising UNESCO on the planning and implementation of the Programme as a whole. It comprises 14 members serving in a personal capacity, appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO, and chosen for their authority in the field of documentary heritage.
Committees
Regional and national MoW committees are autonomous entities made up of documentary heritage professionals on the ground. They are a crucial part of the Programme and implement its strategy on national and regional levels. The success of the MoW Programme relies heavily on the drive, initiative and enthusiasm of regional and national committees. To facilitate exchange among the committees, the Programme organizes inter-regional conferences on pressing topics.
The 2015 UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage Including in Digital Form is the main normative instrument which helps guide the work of the Programme as a whole as well as that of the IAC and the regional and national committees. The national committees are the main vehicles for the implementation of the Recommendation at country level.