UNESCO’s Programme ‘Memory of the World’ was launched in 1992, with the aim to protect, preserve and digitalize archives that contain documents, visual and audio material that relates to the documentary heritage of the member-states of the Organization. Through this Programme, UNESCO provides information, advisory services and software for inventorying and effective preservation of important archives in the member states, thus facilitating simultaneously the access to specific information.
In the framework of this Program, the Memory of the World Register was created, so that archives of exceptional importance of humanity can be inscribed in it, after they have been approved by the International Advisory Committee of the Program.
For the promotion of the objectives of the Program, ‘Memory of the World’ National Committees have been created in various member-states of the Organization. In Cyprus the relevant Committee was established in 1997 and it is based in the Ministry of Justice and Public Order. Specifically, the Committee includes representatives from: the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, the Cyprus National Commission of UNESCO, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth (Cultural Services, Cyprus Research Centre, Cyprus Library), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Finance, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, the University of Cyprus and the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation, and the Research Centre of Kykkos Monastery.
Contact information:
State Archives
Ministry of Justice and Public Order
Tel.: +357 22451045
Fax: +357 22667680
Email: statearchives@sa.mjpo.gov.cy
More information: