The Archives and Records Management Section (ARMS) is responsible for all aspects of UN recordkeeping, ranging from measures to ensure that United Nations officials create records in the course of their duties, through the management of records in United Nations offices (the traditional role of records management), to preserving and making records of continuing value accessible as United Nations archives (the traditional role of archives institutions).
However it is important to remember that as a staff member of
the United Nations all the information you collect or create
in the conduct of business, irrespective of its format, is the
property of the United Nations. In order to make you full aware
of your roles and responsibilities with regard to recordkeeping
ARMS has prepared the Staff
reminder of the rules and responsibilities for managing and
disposing of Secretariat documents and records (ST/SGB/2007/5)
Most records created as a result of the United Nations business have a finite value and can be destroyed when this value has passed. A small percentage, however, is preserved as United Nations archives because they are of enduring value to the United Nations and/or to the public.
As a coordinating office within the Department of Management
ARMS provides direct support and guidance on the management
of UN records throughout their lifecycle via a range of services
and resources
