The UNESCO Memory of the World Program as a Possible Catalyst for Fostering Peace and Peace Studies in Africa

Abstract

Our chapter reflects on the potential of the UNESCO Memory of the World program (MoW)—which is dedicated to documentary heritage—to foster working for peace and peace studies in Africa. It opens by reflecting on some preconditions, like the tasks, functions, and priorities of the UN system and especially those of UNESCO. After giving a short description of the MoW, the chapter introduces three fields of the MoW and work for documentary heritage that could be helpful for peace projects: ARCMoW (African Regional Committee for Memory of the World), the MoW International Register (two examples are given), and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Africa, an international Working Group Africa preparing a Guide on this matter for the continent. In the conclusion, further possibilities of MoW to work for peace in Africa are reflected on—like enhancing the network of the MoW Sub-Committee on Education and Research with peace studies experts, and strengthening the network of Memory of the World Knowledge Centers in Africa which could be open to containing some aspects of peace studies.