Adopted in principle last year, at the ICA Annual General Meeting in Malta, the Universal Declaration on Archives has now officially become one of the core pillars in ICA's advocacy policy.

The ICA delegates decided unanimously at their Annual General Meeting in Oslo, on 17 September 2010, to approve the text of the Universal Declaration on Archives. Developed by ICA/SPA (Section of Professional Associations) on the model of the "Déclaration québécoise des Archives", the Universal declaration on Archives (UDA) sets out concisely the unique characteristics of archives and the management requirements to provide ongoing access for as long as the records are needed. It has been conceived as a basis for advocacy and promotion to support archives and the profession, and addresses a wide public.

It is currently available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese (official translations). More languages will be proposed on the ICA website. However, if you wish to translate it in a language which is not yet available, please contact first the ICA Secretariat. (secretariat [at] ica [dot] org).

ICA encourages its membership to use and disseminate the Declaration. New tools to support a promotion campaign are currently being developed and will soon be available.

→ You would like to share you experience about using the UDA or provide the ICA membership with feedback? Tell your story and send it to: webmaster [at] ica [dot] org

Adopted in principle last year, at the ICA Annual General Meeting in Malta, the Universal Declaration on Archives has now officially become one of the core pillars in ICA's advocacy policy.

The ICA delegates decided unanimously at their Annual General Meeting in Oslo, on 17 September 2010, to approve the text of the Universal Declaration on Archives. Developed by ICA/SPA (Section of Professional Associations) on the model of the "Déclaration québécoise des Archives", the Universal declaration on Archives (UDA) sets out concisely the unique characteristics of archives and the management requirements to provide ongoing access for as long as the records are needed. It has been conceived as a basis for advocacy and promotion to support archives and the profession, and addresses a wide public.

It is currently available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese (official translations). More languages will be proposed on the ICA website. However, if you wish to translate it in a language which is not yet available, please contact first the ICA Secretariat. (secretariat [at] ica [dot] org).

ICA encourages its membership to use and disseminate the Declaration. New tools to support a promotion campaign are currently being developed and will soon be available.

→ You would like to share you experience about using the UDA or provide the ICA membership with feedback? Tell your story and send it to: webmaster [at] ica [dot] org