The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) works with organizations, governments and communities to promote and observe the day on October 27 every year.

The main objectives to observe the day are:

1. Raising public awareness of the need for preservation

2. Providing opportunities to celebrate specific local, national or international aspects of the heritage

3. Highlighting the accessibility of archives

4. Attracting media attention to heritage issues

5. Raising the cultural status of audiovisual heritage

6. Highlighting audiovisual heritage in danger, especially in developing countries