UNESCO on Thursday approved new rules on registering items to the Memory of the World program, a reform sought by Japan aimed at preventing disagreements between member countries over politically sensitive issues such as wartime history.
Screening of applications for the heritage project had been previously done behind closed doors with the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization director general making a final decision on listings, a process criticized by some countries for lacking transparency and fairness.
Under the new rules, every application is disclosed to member countries before screening begins at the advisory committee of the program. The director general then presents the panel's conclusion to the UNESCO executive body, composed of its member countries, and asks for a final decision on whether to register.