Delivered by IFLA’s Preservation and Conservation (PAC) Centre hosted at the International Center for Research and Documentation on African Languages and Traditions (CERDOTOLA), this conference confronts the reality of armed conflict and associated challenges in the Central African region.

It seeks to share strategies for safeguarding documentary heritage collections during times of conflict, and as well to share ideas and create plans to engage local communities with heritage collections, with the goal of promoting peace and reconciliation.

Conference Activities

Over two days, participants from libraries across Francophone Central Africa and from the different regions of Cameroon will come together to learn more about the UNESCO Memory of the World programme, become familiar with existing standards and instruments for the preservation of documentary heritage and the safeguarding of cultural property during armed conflict, and exchange ideas for engaging the public in peacebuilding through engaging with collections.  

The conference and accompanying interactive workshop will guide participants to:

  • Reflect on a strategy for the preservation and conservation of documentary heritage in countries in conflict;
  • Propose a strategy for the preservation, accessibility and promotion of heritage in danger within their contexts;
  • Propose strategies for the involvement of their communities and local populations in the process of preservation and conservation for peacebuilding and reconciliation.

By the end of the conference, participants will have gained a greater knowledge of the regional context for conflict risk preparedness, and how their institutions can have a role. Further, they will have created their own plans and strategies based on the topics discussed during the conference and with feedback from expert facilitators. 

This conference is made possible through the generous funding of the UNESCO Participation Programme 2020-2021. IFLA is honoured to have the opportunity to further align the work of library and documentary heritage professionals with the goals of UNESCO.