The International Council of Archives, ICA, has announced the postponement of the Abu Dhabi ICA 2020 Congress earlier slated for November 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to a statement by the organizers of the congress, the postponement becomes imperative to ensure the safety of all and to enable full participation of delegates from all parts of the world.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is with great regret that we have decided to postpone the ICA Abu Dhabi ICA 2020 Congress. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus the teams at the National Archives of the United Arab Emirates, UAE, and the ICA Executive have been closely monitoring the development of the pandemic, and the significant disruption it has brought to the operations of our member institutions and wider restrictions on international travel. Most distressing is the scale of human suffering that has befallen so many, and to all those affected we extend our sympathies and hopes for a full recovery” the statement reads in part.
Speaking further, the organizer said it has resolved to use the extra time to invest even more effort, creativity, and resources into enhancing the event and making sure it will be both productive and enjoyable while a later date for the congress will be announced in the coming weeks.
“While this situation continues to develop, it is clear that it will not be possible to bring our professional community together for the ICA Congress in November this year. We will still have the Congress in Abu Dhabi, however, to ensure the safety of all and to enable full participation of delegates from all parts of the world, The Congress is being re-scheduled to 2021. We regret that this course of action has become necessary, we resolve to use the extra time to invest even more effort, creativity, and resources into enhancing the event and making sure it will be both productive and enjoyable.
In the coming weeks we will be announcing the new dates for Congress Abu Dhabi, so please stay in touch through the website, newsletter and social media channels” the statement further read.