Every June 9, the world celebrates International Archives Day to highlight the importance of preserving historical documents, photographs, and other valuable records that act as witnesses to history.
The day also acknowledges the vital contributions archivists make to transparency, democracy, and collective memory.
In marking this day, the United Nations on Tuesday shared the image of the original manuscript of its charter, complete with handwritten notes.
“More than 80 years later, the ideals set out in the Charter remain as vital and relevant as ever,” a caption accompanying the manuscript stated.
The International Council of Archives marks this day with a week full of activities and guiding themes.
This year, the week, which began Tuesday and runs through Friday, June 12, under the theme '#ArchivesForJustice: Rights, Memory and Futures', places particular emphasis on archives as active infrastructures that sustain justice across time, from past violations and present responsibilities to future claims and aspirations.
The original manuscript, which was shared on Tuesday to mark International Archives Day. (Photo: UN)
The week will provide a global platform to highlight the societal functions of archives: enabling accountability, preserving memory, safeguarding rights, and supporting the rule of law.
“Archives hold records that are fundamental to the exercise of justice and the protection of rights. How these records are preserved, described, accessed, and governed directly influence how individuals and communities can pursue truth, accountability, and justice,” the Council says.
It further notes that archives contribute to these processes not only by preserving evidence of past events, including violations, but also by supporting systems that uphold the rule of law, protect rights, and ensure accountability.
“They act as trusted reference points, documenting decisions and responsibilities over time, and reducing risks for individuals and communities,” the Council adds.
It also notes that beyond formal legal frameworks, archives support memory, dialogue, and reparative processes, especially where legal mechanisms may be limited or absent. In this sense, their role extends across restorative, preventative, and ethical approaches to justice.
Kenya’s records of its past are partly stored at the Kenya National Archives, which holds over 40,000 volumes of public records.
The Archives was established by an Act of Parliament in 1965, which tasked it with the management of all public records.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google