The Asia/Pacific Regional Committee for the
Memory of the World Program (MOWCAP) is a subsidiary
of the International Advisory Committee (ICA)
of the "Memory
of the World" (MOW) Program which itself
was launched by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
in 1992. MOWCAP was set up in 1998 during its
First MOWCAP General Meeting held in Beijing,
China.
MOWCAP embraces the Asia Pacific region of
43 countries - one of five UNESCO regions across
the globe. Features of the region include:
Wide political, linguistic and cultural
diversity, and great economic disparity.
Most countries are part of the third world.
The world's largest and smallest countries
- China has a population of 1.3 billion
and Niue, 2000.
The tyranny of distance - much of the
region is ocean, and many countries are
islands making communication and travel
costly.
Cultures of great richness and antiquity,
but many nation states are relatively
young in their present form. A general
history of colonization creates issues
in the repatriation of documentary heritage.
Archives, libraries and museums often
lack adequate funds, infrastructure and
skills.
MOWCAP is a cooperative structure through which
people in the region can be brought together
to pursue the objectives of the MOW Program.
MOWCAP's Objectives
MOWCAP's objectives are to promote, facilitate
and monitor the MOW Program within the region,
and to represent the region at the international
level. Among other things, MOWCAP supports and
facilitates nominations and encourages adequate
representation of the region's documentary heritage
in the International MOW Register. It also supports
and complements the work of the National MOW Committees.
It seeks to raise awareness of the Program and
of the documentary heritage in the Asia-Pacific
region.
MOWCAP's Functions
Increases awareness of the
importance of documentary heritage, improves
its accessibility and use
Promotes resource sharing
and optimal use of resources in the region
Mobilizes political, social
and economic support for the MOW Asia/Pacific
Program
Encourages cross country linkages
of valuable collections of multi-country/cultural
significance
Encourages the establishment
of National MOW Committees
Maintains the Asia/Pacific
Regional Register of MOW documentary heritage
Discusses the selection criteria
and any other matters determined by the
International Advisory Committee and make
recommendations
Mobilizes resources and supports
for MOW projects/activities
Through the leadership of its Bureau,
MOWCAP organizes events and meetings on a regular
basis.
MOWCAP also maintains an Asia/Pacific
Regional Register of the MOW documentary
heritage, a listing of documentary heritage
of influence in the Asia/Pacific region. MOWCAP
is the authority that approves inscriptions
on the Asia/Pacific MOW Register. It assesses
nominations from members through its Asia/Pacific
Register Subcommittee against established
selection criteria.
Normally, inscriptions on the Asia/Pacific
Register are made every two years.
