IAW2025: Highlights from the #ArchivesAreAccessible Map!

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) exemplifies how archives can serve as powerful tools for access, education, and justice. Their barrier-free resource centre ensures physical accessibility for users with disabilities, while “My Story”, a co-produced documentary with the EBC, preserves the voices of Civil Parties — putting human rights at the heart of archival practice. Through the innovative #YourBus mobile resource centre, the ECCC literally drives archival outreach across Cambodia, connecting communities to their past. And with community-focused initiatives like the Peacxel Project, the ECCC is showing how archives can foster representation, dialogue, and long-term impact.

ArchivesSpace is a free, open-source application that’s reshaping how archives are managed and accessed. Designed with continuous accessibility improvements, it empowers institutions of all sizes — especially those serving underrepresented communities — through its Diversity Partnership and anti-racism and inclusion initiatives. Community-driven at its core, ArchivesSpace supports crowdsourced translations, promotes educational use in classrooms, and upholds transparency in both governance and design. A model of how digital tools can make archives more inclusive, accessible, and participatory for all.

The Archivo General de la Nación de México (AGN) is redefining public access to archives through a dynamic mix of on-site experiences and digital innovation. From guided tours, concerts, and exhibitions to large-scale digitisation projects, the AGN is breaking barriers to archival access. Their outreach includes engaging social media campaigns and a dedicated children’s section that brings history to life for young audiences. With robust accessibility measures for people with disabilities, the AGN ensures its cultural and documentary heritage is truly for everyone.

The Archives départementales du Val d’Oise are using education and remembrance to shift perceptions of archival work. Through internal awareness sessions for departmental staff, they reinforce the importance of archival practices within local governance. Their powerful exhibition, Mémoires en partage: 1939–1945. Vos Archives, Notre Histoire, invites the public to reflect on WWII through shared documents and collective memory, showing how archives can connect citizens with history in meaningful ways.

At the University of Namibia, archival access is designed to be as open and inclusive as possible. Their walk-in exhibitions aligned with national events, welcome visitors without appointments, while curated display cabinets offer accessible engagement with the past. The Library Disability Lab provides support for users with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to resources. Online, the university offers a digital catalogue and media-rich collections, further extending reach and visibility of Namibian heritage.