S.O.S. Archivi

Statement in support of Italian State Archives

     The Section of Professional Associations of the International Council on Archives (ICA/SPA), representing 70 associations and over 70,000 archival and records management professionals worldwide, is profoundly concerned about the drastic funding cuts that the government has imposed on the Italian State Archives and the Soprantendenze (regional archives advisory services).

     Funding cuts at a level of 50% make it impossible for the State Archives and the Soprantendenze to continue their functions and place their valuable collections in danger. Without sufficient funding for the Archives:

· Government will lose its operational memory and will be less effective;

· Italian citizens will lose their fundamental right of access to personal and administrative information;

· Researchers worldwide will lose access to Italy’s archival heritage; and

· Italy’s pre-eminent place in world culture and thought will be endangered.

     Funding cuts of this kind set an unacceptable precedent and future funding considerations should take account of the vital role played by a nation’s archives.

To avert disaster, ICA/SPA appeals to the Italian government to restore full funding to the State Archives and Soprantendenze immediately.