As the United Nations agency with a specific mandate to promote “the free flow of ideas by word and image”, UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector works to promotes freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism, and the building of inclusive knowledge societies underpinned by universal access to information and the innovative use of digital technologies.

As part of CI Sector’s work to address information challenges, UNESCO, through its Memory of the World Programme to promote the preservation of, and access to, documentary heritage, including in its digital form. Documentary heritage in archives, libraries and museums constitutes a major part of the memory of the peoples of the world and reflects the diversity of peoples, languages and cultures.

Established in 1992, the vision of the Memory of the World Programme is that the world's documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved and protected for all and, with due recognition of cultural mores and practicalities, should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance. In this regard, UNESCO works to facilitate preservation, by the most appropriate techniques, of the world’s documentary heritage; assist universal access to documentary heritage; and increase awareness worldwide of the existence and significance of documentary heritage.