ICA Reference Documents
The Council is the voice of archives on the world stage. Its business is based upon a number of defining documents that explain the purpose of both ICA and the archive profession.
Read the internationally adopted Code of Ethics which describes the ethical foundation on which all ICA members base their work, or take a look at the speech of Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Round Table Conference. Learn about how the ICA works through documents such as the Constitution.
All these documents can be downloaded from this website for free.
ICA Constitution
ICA Code of Ethics
The General Assembly of the ICA held in Beijing, China, formally adopted the ICA Code of Ethics on 6 September 1996.
Universal Declaration on Archives
The Delegates of the Annual General Meeting of the ICA held in Oslo, Norway, formally adopted the Universal Declaration on Archives on 17 September 2010.
The Declaration was officially endorsed by the UNESCO in plenary session on 10 November 2011.
Internal Regulations
- Current Internal Regulations, voted in 2021, available in English and French
- Previous Internal Regulation, 2012, available in English and French.
Mission and Value of the ICA
This document lays out the aspirations that we share to develop and strengthen our community and the commitments that we make to one another to respect one another and share our achievements.
Available in English and French
ICA Membership Benefits
We would like to share with our members the ICA Membership Benefits presented as a grid so you can find the benefits offered to each member depending on their category.
Available in English, French and Spanish
ICA Planning Documents
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ICA Strategic Plan 2021-2024
The plan reflects the views and opinions shared during the campaign ICA by its members, for its members and represents the input from members from across the association.| Available in English and French
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ICA Strategic Implementation Plan, 2014-2018
Available in English and French.
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ICA Strategic Direction 2008-2018
The purpose of this document is to provide a clear statement of why ICA has chosen this strategic direction and what it wishes to achieve from 2008 to 2018. | Available in English, French, Spanish and Russian.
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PCOM Strategic Plan 2018-2020
This plan was approved on November 25, 2017. | Available in English, French and Spanish.
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Business Plan 2008-2010
The framework for this business plan has been informed by the draft work programmes of many branches and sections. The plan comprises the main activities in the organization until late 2010, including projects and other initiatives proposed by ICA bodies and individual members. | Available in English and French.
Declaration of the ICA Executive Board at Guangzhou, China, 10-13 April 1995
The Declaration of the ICA Executive Board at Guangzhou recommends a pragmatic approach in the settlement of archival claims arising from archives removed during war or colonialisation.
Available in English.
ICA Annual Reports
- Annual Report 2022, available in English, French and Spanish
- Annual Report 2021, available in English and French
- Annual Report 2020, available in English and French
- Annual Report 2019, available in English and French
- Annual Report 2011, available in English and French
Position Statements
- Implementation of Executive Board Resolution on Ukraine, 2022. Available in English, French, Spanish, Ukrainian and Russian
- Message from the ICA President - Extraordinary EB, 2022. Available in English, French and Spanish
- Statement of the International Council on Archives on the Situtation of the Archives of International Memorial, 2022. Available in English, French and Spanish
- Solidarity with Ukrainian Archives and Records Professionals, 2022. Available in English, French and Spanish
- Press release of the International Council on Archives concerning the reclosure of access to the 1940-1970 archives stamped "secret", 2020. Available in French
- ICA becomes a member of the Climate Change Heritage Network, 2020. Available in English, French and Spanish
- COVID-19: The duty to document does not cease in a crisis, it becomes more essential, 2020. Available in English, French and Spanish
- ICA, ICOMOS, IFLA and ICOM Statement on the situation of cultural heritage in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, 2020. Available in English and French
- Statement of the ICA on the Situation of the Historical Archives of the National Police of Guatemala, 2019. Available in English, French and Spanish
- ICA Statement on Limitations & Exceptions at WIPO Standing Committee SCCR 36, May 2018. Available in English and French
- ICA Statement on Limitations and Exceptions - SCCR36, May 2018. Available in English and French
- ICA Statement on Exceptions for LAMs - SCCR36, May 2018. Available in English and French
- ICA Statement on Broadcasting - SCCR36, May 2018. Available in English and French
- ICA Statement on Translation at WIPO Standing Committee SCCR33, November 2016. Available in English and French
- ICA Statement on Limitations on liability for libraries, archives, and museums at WIPO Standing Committee SCCR33, November 2016. Available in English and French
- ICA Statement on Technological Protection Measures at WIPO Standing Committee SCCR33, November 2016. Available in English and French
- ICA Statement on Contractual override of statutory exceptions at WIPO Standing Committee SCCR33, November 2016. Available in English and French
- Declaration of the ICA Executive Board at Guangzhou, China, 10-13 April 1995. Available in English
Major Speeches
- Archibishop Desmond Tutu keynote address at the CITRA conference in Capetown, South Africa, 21 October 2003. Available in English