World Heritage Centre https://whc.unesco.org?cid=305&l=en&searchDecisions=&&search_session_decision=110&action=list&mode=rss World Heritage Centre - Committee Decisions 90 en Copyright 2024 UNESCO, World Heritage Centre Wed, 15 May 2024 20:23:18 EST UNESCO, World Heritage Centre - Decisions https://whc.unesco.org/document/logowhc.jpg https://whc.unesco.org 40 COM 2 Admission of Observers The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Taking into consideration Rule 8 (Observers) of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee,
  2. Authorizes the participation in the 40th session as observers of those representatives of the international governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), non- governmental organizations (NGOs), permanent observer missions to UNESCO and non profit-making institutions having activities in the fields covered by the Convention, who have requested observer participation at the session and as listed in Section A of document WHC-16/40.COM/2,
  3. Further confirms the participation in the 40th session as observers of all those invited by the Director-General of UNESCO in accordance with Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee and as listed in Section B of document WHC-16/40.COM/2.
]]> https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6770 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST 40 COM 3A Adoption of the Agenda The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/3A.Rev.2,
  2. Adopts the Agenda contained in the above-mentioned document.
]]> https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6771 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST 40 COM 3B Adoption of the Timetable The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/3B.Rev.2,
  2. Adopts the Timetable contained in the above-mentioned document
]]> https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6772 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST 40 COM 4 Report of the Rapporteur of the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee (Bonn, 2015) The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Takes note of the report of the Rapporteur of the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee (Bonn, 2015).
]]> https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6773 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST 40 COM 5A Report of the World Heritage Centre on its Activities and the Implementation of the World Heritage Committee’s Decisions The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5A,
  2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 5A adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
  3. Takes note with appreciation of the activities undertaken by the World Heritage Centre over the past year in pursuit of the Expected Result to ensure that “tangible heritage is identified, protected, monitored and sustainably managed by Member States, in particular through the effective implementation of the 1972 Convention”, and the five strategic objectives as presented in Document WHC/16/40.COM/5A;
  4. Requests the World Heritage Centre to inform the Committee of relevant expert meetings and their results in a timely manner;
  5. Also requests the World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies, to develop interactive orientation sessions for new Committee members;
  6. Welcomes the synergies among the Culture Conventions in the framework of the Culture Conventions Liaison Group (CCLG) and the first meeting of the Chairpersons of all six UNESCO Culture Conventions;
  7. Also welcomes the enhanced cooperation and synergies with the biodiversity-related conventions and programmes and invites the World Heritage Centre to continue its engagement with the synergy processes;
  8. Invites the States Parties to support the activities carried out by the World Heritage Centre as well as give due consideration to make mandatory and voluntary contributions necessary for the sustained operations of the Centre and implementation of the Convention;
  9. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to present, at its 41st session, a report on its activities.
]]> https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6774 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST 40 COM 5B Reports of the Advisory Bodies The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5B,
  2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 5B adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
  3. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Advisory Bodies (ICCROM, ICOMOS and IUCN) on their activities;
  4. Welcomes the harmonization of the reports by the Advisory Bodies and the comments on the progress made and gaps identified for the implementation of the Convention;
  5. Calls upon ICOMOS and IUCN to continue to engage in appropriate dialogue and consultation with States Parties to further enhance overall transparency and optimize decision-making of the Committee.
]]> https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6775 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST 40 COM 5C World Heritage Convention and Sustainable Development The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5C,
  2. Recalling Decisions 36 COM 5C, 38 COM 5D, and 39 COM 5D, adopted respectively at its 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012), 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions, as well as Resolution 20 GA 13, adopted by the General Assembly at its 20th session (UNESCO, 2015),
  3. Welcomes the adoption of the “Policy Document for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention” by the 20th General Assembly of States Parties (UNESCO, 2015);
  4. Reiterates the need to achieve appropriate balance and integration between the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties and the pursuit of sustainable development objectives and invites the World Heritage Centre to develop a strategy in due time, as appropriate, for the implementation of the sustainable development policy;
  5. Takes note of the follow-up activities and the progress made by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in disseminating and mainstreaming the policy into operational activities, as requested by Decision 39 COM 5D and Resolution 20 GA 13;
  6. Also takes note of the active participation of the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies in supporting Members States in the implementation of SDG 11 and Target 11.4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and of the further work anticipated on developing indicators in this regard;
  7. Also notes contributions by the World Heritage Convention to a number of other SDG goals and also invites the World Heritage Centre, Advisory Bodies and States Parties to highlight all World Heritage related contributions in their follow-up processes and reporting on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
  8. Calls upon States Parties to ensure that sustainable development principles are mainstreamed into their national processes related to World Heritage and integrated at the level of local communities, in full respect of the boundaries and the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties;
  9. Recalls the Article 13.7 of the World Heritage Convention and encourages all States Parties, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to invite the perspectives of non-governmental and civil society organizations with practical experience of conservation of World Heritage properties in the further development of principles intended to mainstream sustainable development into national, regional and other relevant policies related to World Heritage;
  10. Decides to inscribe an agenda item concerning World Heritage and Sustainable Development at its 41st session in 2017 and requests the World Heritage Centre to present a progress report in this regard.
]]> https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6776 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST 40 COM 5D Report on the World Heritage Thematic Programmes The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5D,
  2. Recalling Decisions 32 COM 10, 32 COM 10A, 34 COM 5F.1, 36 COM 5D, 36 COM 5E and 38 COM 5E, adopted at its 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), 34th (Brasilia, 2010), 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) and 38th (Doha, 2014) sessions respectively,
  3. Welcomes the progress report on the implementation of the World Heritage Thematic Programmes and Initiatives, notes their important contribution towards implementation of the Global Strategy for representative World Heritage List, and thanks all States Parties, donors and other organizations for having contributed to achieving their objectives;
  4. Acknowledges the results attained by the Forest Programme, which has achieved its key objectives, and decides to phase it out; requesting the World Heritage Centre to continue to provide support in identifying, conservation and managing forests of Outstanding Universal Value, in view of their contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to forests;
  5. Also acknowledges the contribution of the World Heritage Programme on Earthen Architecture to the state of conservation and management of earthen architecture worldwide and requests the World Heritage Centre to undertake the necessary steps for entrusting the main partner of the Programme, CRATerre, with the operational implementation of the Programme and to ensure the necessary institutional overview and guidance;
  6. Further acknowledges the results achieved by the World Heritage Cities Programme and calls States Parties and other stakeholders to provide human and financial resources ensuring the continuation of this Programme in view of its crucial importance for the conservation of the urban heritage inscribed on the World Heritage List, for the implementation of the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape and its contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to cities as well as for its contribution to the preparation of the New Urban Agenda;
  7. Acknowledges furthermore the results achieved of the World Heritage Marine Programme its contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to oceans, also thanks Flanders, the Netherlands and France for their support, notes with concern the possible departure of key donors in 2017 and invites States Parties and other stakeholders to continue to provide human and financial resources to support for the implementation of the Programme;
  8. Notes the results achieved in the implementation of the World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Programme, expresses appreciation for the funding provided by the European Commission and further thanks Flanders, Germany, Malaysia, Norway and the Netherlands for their support in the implementation of the Programme's activities;
  9. Also notes the results achieved by the HEADS Programme, thanks Ethiopia, Germany, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Spain, South Africa and Turkey for their generous support and decides to phase out the Programme, also requesting the World Heritage Centre to continue to provide relevant support in identifying, conservation and managing of human-evolution related heritage of Outstanding Universal Value;
  10. Further notes the progress in the implementation of the Small Island Developing States Programme, its importance for a representative, credible and balanced World Heritage List, thanks furthermore Japan and the Netherlands for their support and also requests the States Parties and other stakeholders to continue to provide human and financial resources for the implementation of the Programme;
  11. Notes furthermore the results achieved in the framework of the Thematic Initiative “Astronomy and World Heritage", and further requests the World Heritage Centre to undertake the necessary steps for entrusting IAU with the operational implementation of the Programme and to ensure the necessary institutional guidance;
  12. Also takes note of the progress report on the Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest, endorses the recommendations of the first Thematic Expert Consultation meeting, also thanks Bulgaria for its generous contribution and reiterates its invitation to States Parties and other stakeholders to continue to support this Initiative;
  13. Urges States Parties, international organizations and donors to contribute financially to the Thematic Programmes and Initiatives as the implementation of thematic priorities is no longer feasible without extra-budgetary funding;
  14. Requests furthermore the World Heritage Centre to submit an updated result-based report on Thematic Programmes and Initiatives, under Item 5A: Report of the World Heritage Centre on its activities, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018.
]]> https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6777 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST 40 COM 6 Follow-Up to the World Heritage Capacity-Building Strategy and Progress Report on the World Heritage-Related Category 2 Centres
  • Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/6,
  • Recalling Decisions 36 COM 6, 36 COM 9B, 37 COM 5E, 37 COM 6, 38 COM 6 as well as 39 COM 6 adopted at its 36th (St Petersburg, 2012), 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013), 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions respectively,
  • Commends the progress made in the implementation of the World Heritage Capacity-Building Strategy (WHCBS), its accompanying World Heritage Capacity-Building Programme, and the capacity-building activities carried out in 2015 and in the beginning of 2016;
  • Notes with appreciation the continued support of the Government of Switzerland in the implementation of the World Heritage Capacity-Building Programme;
  • Welcomes the initiative by the Government of Norway in collaboration with ICCROM and IUCN to develop a medium term, six-year programme for capacity building, “World Heritage Leadership”;
  • Calls upon other States Parties and organizations to provide additional funding and support for the implementation of the World Heritage Capacity-Building Programme and associated activities at the international and regional levels;
  • Takes note of the development of the regional capacity-building strategies and initiatives, and also calls upon States Parties and all concerned partners and stakeholders to follow-up on the implementation of the strategies developed for each region, ensuring that the different regional initiatives do not overlap;
  • Also welcomes the progress made by all category 2 centres related to World Heritage in implementing their activities and calls on interested stakeholders to support these activities;
  • Requests the World Heritage Centre and ICCROM to submit a progress report on the implementation of the World Heritage Capacity-Building Strategy and the activities of the category 2 centres related to World Heritage, with indicators on number of participants from developing and underrepresented States Parties, for examination by the Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
    • ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6778 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7 State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Documents WHC/16/40.COM/7, WHC/16/40.COM/7A, WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add, WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/16/40.COM/7B, WHC/16/40.COM/7B.Add and WHC/16/40.COM/7B.Add.2,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),

      Emergency situation resulting from conflicts
    3. Deplores the conflict situation prevailing in several countries, the loss of human life as well as the degradation of humanitarian conditions and expresses its utmost concern at the damage sustained and the threats facing cultural and natural heritage in general;
    4. Urges the States Parties to ratify international instruments such as the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and implores States Parties associated with conflicts to refrain from any action that would cause further damage to cultural and natural heritage and to fulfil their obligations under international law by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, in particular the safeguarding of World Heritage properties and the sites included in the Tentative List;
    5. Also urges the States Parties to adopt measures that oppose World Heritage properties being used for military purposes;
    6. Takes note of the progress made by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to launch a reflection on a post-conflict recovery strategy, and of the support extended so far through technical assistance, capacity-building, and exchange of best practices in this regard, and recommends that further support for threatened or damaged World Heritage properties be pursued;
    7. Notes with concern that the conflict situation in several countries in the world has increased considerably the work load of the World Heritage Centre staff, and that an adequate implementation of the Action Plans for the Emergency Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Mali, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen requires additional financial and human resources at the World Heritage Centre and in the UNESCO field offices; also notes the increased demands on the resources of the Advisory Bodies;
    8. Calls on the international community to provide financial support for the implementation of the UNESCO Action Plans for the Emergency Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen, including for additional human resources at the World Heritage Centre and in the UNESCO field offices;
    9. Also expresses its utmost concern about the impacts of conflicts causing an escalation of the already severe poaching crisis, as armed groups are financing their activities through illegal wildlife trade, which is having a severe impact on African wildlife, threatening the very survival of species and the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of World Heritage properties;
    10. Launches an appeal to all Member States of UNESCO to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage objects and illegal wildlife trade, including through the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the ratification of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and to pursue the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2199 of February 2015 regarding Syria and Iraq;

      Other conservation issues

      Reconstruction

    11. Noting that the recent and wide-ranging deliberate destruction of World Heritage properties as a result of armed conflict in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Mali and Nigeria, and the devastating earthquakes in Nepal, have brought sharply into focus the issue of reconstruction in World Heritage properties; that several international meetings have taken place or are being planned on reconstruction; and that guidance within the Operational Guidelines is currently inadequate,
    12. Recommends that more in depth reflection is needed on reconstruction within World Heritage properties as a complex multi-disciplinary process, and that consideration should be given to developing new guidance to reflect the multi-faceted challenges that reconstruction brings, its social and economic context, the short- and long-term needs of properties, and the idea of reconstruction as a process that should be undertaken within the framework of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the properties;
    13. Welcomes the offer of the Government of Poland to host an international conference on Reconstruction to provide guidelines to the World Heritage Committee;

      Climate Change
    14. Taking note of the agreement reached during the 21st conference (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in 2015, requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to assist States Parties to implement appropriate management responses to the adverse effects of Climate Change;
    15. Recommends that the World Heritage Centre strengthen its relations with other organizations working on Climate Change, particularly with the UNFCCC and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) secretariats, and specifically with regard to the effect of Climate Change on World Heritage properties, and also requests the States Parties, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to work with IPCC with the objective of including a specific chapter on natural and cultural World Heritage in future IPCC assessment reports;
    16. Further requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to periodically review and update the “Policy Document on the Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage properties”, so as to make available the most current knowledge and technology on the subject to guide the decisions and actions of the World Heritage community;

      Dams
    17. Notes with significant concern that an increasing number of properties are facing potential threats from major dam projects, considers that the construction of dams with large reservoirs within the boundaries of World Heritage properties is incompatible with their World Heritage status, and urges States Parties to ensure that the impacts from dams that could affect properties located upstream or downstream within the same river basin are rigorously assessed in order to avoid impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);

      Extractive industries
    18. Noting with significant concern that World Heritage properties are increasingly threatened by extractive industries, as confirmed by the 2014 IUCN World Heritage Outlook report, by the World Heritage Centre’s analysis of issues reported in state of conservation reports also revealing the potential threat from extractive activities to cultural properties, and by the 2016 report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), welcomes the “No-go” commitments to World Heritage properties made by Tullow Oil plc and CEMEX in November 2015 and April 2016 respectively, and reiterates its call on other extractive industry companies and investment banks to follow these examples to further extend the “No-go” commitment;
    19. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7, once again urges all States Parties to the Convention and leading industry stakeholders to respect the “No-go” commitment by not permitting extractive activities within World Heritage properties, and by making every effort to ensure that extractives companies located in their territory cause no damage to World Heritage properties, in line with Article 6 of the Convention;

      Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)/Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs)
    20. Notes with concern that a majority of properties potentially affected by proposed development projects, proposed legal instruments, and proposed management systems have not benefited from an assessment of impacts on their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in line with IUCN’s World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment and ICOMOS’ Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessments for Cultural World Heritage Properties, and requests all States Parties to the Convention to ensure that potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts on the OUV, including from projects located outside the boundaries of natural and/or cultural World Heritage properties, are specifically assessed within the framework of the EIA and HIA required by the applicable laws and regulations, and that reports of such assessments are submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
    21. Recalls Article 6 of the Convention according to which “Each State Party to this Convention undertakes not to take any deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage […] situated on the territory of other States Parties to this Convention”, and also requests all States Parties to the Convention to ensure that EIAs and HIAs include an assessment of impacts on the OUV of World Heritage properties situated on the territory of other States Parties, as appropriate;
    22. Further requests the Advisory Bodies, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, to consider opportunities to streamline their guidance on impact assessment in order to develop one single guidance document for the assessment of impacts on both natural and cultural properties;

      Integrated management, Decision making, Governance
    23. Noting with concern that the lack of an integrated management approach is reported to cause challenges to the coordination of management and decision making processes of properties where different authorities are involved, in particular in the cases of mixed, serial, and transboundary properties, urges States Parties to establish appropriate mechanisms in order to facilitate a coordinated approach to the management of all properties, in line with the requirements of the Operational Guidelines as laid out in Paragraphs 112, 114, and 135, and encourages States Parties with contiguous natural properties on either side of their international borders, which are not listed as transboundary properties, to establish appropriate mechanisms for cooperation between their respective management authorities and ministries;
    24. Also encourages States Parties to promote recognition and awareness across all relevant national and regional agencies of the World Heritage status of the properties on their territory, and to develop mechanisms to ensure consideration of impacts on Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in the decision making processes of relevant ministries, before permits are issued for developments that could negatively impact the OUV;

      Ground transport infrastructures
    25. Notes with concern that the number of cases of ground transport infrastructure having potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of World Heritage properties is continuing to grow, and calls upon States Parties to carry out Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) early in the process of transportation planning to allow for potential impacts of the OUV, including those resulting from foreseeable associated future developments, to be identified prior to the development of specific projects;
    26. Encourages States Parties to carry out Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) on ground transport projects, once they are designed, with multiple options to ensure that transportation needs can be met with minimal impacts on the OUV of World Heritage properties;

      List of World Heritage in Danger
    27. Takes note of its discussions under agenda items 7A and 7B, and requests the World Heritage Centre, in consultation with the Advisory Bodies and States Parties, to promote better understanding of the implications and benefits of properties being inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and to develop appropriate information material in this regard with a view to overcome the negative perceptions of the List of World Heritage in Danger. The information material should highlight the importance of the protection of the OUV;

      Reactive Monitoring
    28. Requests the World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies to evaluate the effectiveness of the Reactive Monitoring including procedures and case studies and to present a preliminary report for the consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018, if funds are available.

    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6817 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.1 City of Potosi (Bolivia, Plurinational State of) (C 420) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.44, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. Welcomes the efforts made by the State Party in view of the establishment of a Supra Organic Management Body to ensure an effective and integral management mechanism for the property and its components and urges the State Party to finalize
    4. Notes with concern the standstill of stabilization works at the summit of Cerro Rico and also urges the State Party to take all the necessary measures to proceed with the stabilization works;
    5. Further urges the State Party to finalize the process to adopt a new legislation to address the issue of the relocation of miners and enforcing the moratorium for all explorations between altitudes 4,400m and 4,700m;
    6. Regrets that the State Party was not able to develop a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) nor the Integral Management Plan in the framework of the International Assistance granted by the World Heritage Fund;
    7. Reiterates its requests to the State Party to develop as a matter of urgency, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, a proposal for the DSOCR and a set of corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    8. Requests the State Party to establish a clear management structure for the property, with appropriate articulation between the various bodies and committees, to urgently proceed with the elaboration of an Integrated Management Plan, and to include in this process the elaboration of land use regulation for the property and its surrounding areas in order to define a buffer zone to protect the visually sensitive areas around the property;
    9. Notes with appreciation the approval of the Law for the Preservation of the Historic Zone of City of Potosí and also requests the State Party to develop an integral conservation strategy before implementing any major restoration works at the property;
    10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    11. Decides to retain City of Potosí (Bolivia (Plurinational State of)) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6617 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.2 Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) (C 1178bis) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.45, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. Commends the State Party for its commitment to the full and timely implementation of the corrective measures and for the progress made in a period in which the State Party also had to respond to severe damages caused by the earthquake of 2014;
    4. Acknowledges that the allocation of dedicated staff and resources, efficient planning and coordination among national and local institutions are key factors in the successful implementation of the corrective measures, and particularly welcomes the participation of the University Arturo Prat as a means to transmit knowledge of traditional construction techniques and materials of the property to the young generation of architecture students;
    5. Encourages the State Party to continue the implementation of the corrective measures with the aim to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) within the established framework;
    6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    7. Decides to retain Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6618 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.3 Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Panama) (C 135) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.46, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. While regretting that the set of corrective measures adopted at the time of inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger was not implemented within the timeframe 2012-2015, appreciates the State Party’s renewed commitment to take all necessary measures for the proper conservation and management of the property;
    4. Welcomes the strategy, programme and timeframe that are now submitted by the State Party that will ensure the implementation of the corrective measures in the period 2016-2019 with the aim of achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) in 2019;
    5. Urges the State Party to take all the necessary legal, institutional, managerial and financial measures to ensure the full implementation of the corrective measures and to inform the Committee in its annual reports on the progress made;
    6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    7. Decides to retain the Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Panama) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6619 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.4 Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru) (C 366) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.47, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. Commends the State Party for the implementation of most of the corrective measures towards achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and encourages the State Party to continue its efforts for their implementation;
    4. Notes with appreciation the significant efforts invested by the local, regional and national authorities, as well as the international and interinstitutional agreement for the implementation of research, conservation and maintenance activities for the conservation of the property, in particular in the framework of the El Niño Southern Oscillation Prevention Programme (ENSO);
    5. Welcomes the establishment of an Earthen Architecture Laboratory, the development of studies of construction technologies and materials, and meteorological research, as well as the creation of Executing Unit 009 to reinforce the management of the property and the interinstitutional cooperation between the Special Chan Chan Archaeological Complex Project (PECACH) and the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of La Libertad;
    6. Notes the submission of the Interinstitutional Cooperation agreement for the renovation of the site museum and also encourages the State Party to finalize its approval and start its implementation;
    7. Acknowledges the commitment expressed by the State Party to develop the updating of the Archaeological Intervention Manual and the Integral Risk Prevention Plan as requested by Decision 39 COM 7A.47 and requests the State Party to submit them to the World Heritage Centre as soon as they become available, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
    8. Also notes the progress achieved in the definition of the delimitation process of the property’s buffer zone and urges the State Party to finalize this process and elaborate its regulatory measures in collaboration with all concerned stakeholders;
    9. Reiterates its request to the State Party to finalize the approval process of:
      1. the updated version of the Master Plan for the Conservation and Management of the property as soon as possible, taking into account the views of all stakeholders, an electronic copy and three printed copies of which should be provided to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies,
      2. Law 28261, to ensure that the property is adequately protected from illegal occupation and seek for supplementary solutions to this issue;
    10. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    11. Decides to retain Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6620 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.5 Coro and its Port (Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of) (C 658) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.48, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. Appreciates the initiative of the State Party to invite an ICOMOS Advisory mission, welcomes the progress reported in the implementation of the corrective measures adopted in Decision 38 COM 7A.23 and expresses its appreciation for the steady progress in the conservation and restoration of both public and private property, as well as the extensive programme for the promotion and transmission of traditional know-how;
    4. Also appreciates the efforts made by the State Party in the completion of the boundary clarification requested in the framework of the Retrospective Inventory process;
    5. Takes note of the preliminary proposal submitted for the extension of the buffer zone of the component Coro and requests the State Party to formally submit this proposal, as a Minor Boundary Modification, according to paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines;
    6. Considers that the two main outstanding matters that should be addressed to complete the set of corrective measures are the preparation of the Management Plan and the implementation of effective drainage systems, and also requests the State Party to continue the implementation of all corrective measures and, in particular, to take the necessary measures to prepare the Management Plan and effective drainage systems;
    7. Also considers that once these corrective measures are effectively implemented, an assessment could then be made to check whether the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) is achieved;
    8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    9. Decides to retain Coro and its Port (Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6621 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.6 Timbuktu (Mali) (C 119rev) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.21, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. Regrets that the State Party was unable to submit a state of conservation report of the property, as requested by the Committee;
    4. Congratulates the State Party for the significant work undertaken in the reconstruction of the 14 Saint mausoleums destroyed during the occupation period of Timbuktu in 2012 and thanks the partners who provided support in the framework of the Mali Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage project and requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre the reconstruction strategy that guided this work and the architectural and archaeological studies carried out, so that the principles underpinning this reconstruction work are clearly documented and the role of the Corporation of Masons fully appreciated;
    5. Expresses its concern regarding the fragility of the security situation at Timbuktu preventing the State Party from inviting the requested joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to evaluate the general state of conservation of the property;
    6. Notes with satisfaction the organization in Bamako of an evaluation meeting on the state of conservation of the property based on all the technical missions, studies and activity reports carried out, as well as observations and comments of the site managers and representatives of local communities, enabling the preparation of corrective measures and the preparation of a Desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
    7. Adopts the following corrective measures to ensure the conditions of integrity and authenticity of the property:
      1. For the conservation of the physical components of the property:
        1. Carry out the restoration/rehabilitation work for the two mosques of Sankoré and Sidi Yahia to strengthen their stability and safeguarding, and establish a participatory management mechanism closely involving the Imams,
        2. Establish and implement control measures concerning the silting up of the physical components of the property,
        3. Rehabilitate fencing around the cemeteries where the World Heritage mausoleums are located in order to strengthen security,
      2. For the protection and management of the property:
        1. Revise and implement the management and conservation plan for the property and the buffer zones, taking into account risk management, threats concerning the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and a plan for preventive and remedial conservation activities for the components of the property,
        2. Identify short- middle- and long-term funding sources to guarantee the implementation of the management plan,
        3. Prepare a geo-referenced map indicating the boundaries of the buffer zones for each of the components,
        4. Update and implement urban regulations in the periphery of the inscribed property, the ancient fabric and buffer zones and evaluate their efficiency,
        5. Prepare a maintenance manual and conservation plan for the reconstructed mausoleums,
        6. Re-energize the Management Committee for all components of the property involving the municipal authorities concerned,
        7. Strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of the actors and professionals involved in the management and conservation of the property,
        8. Strengthen the operational capacities of the management structure of the property: allocation of necessary budget for urgent conservation activities,
        9. Improve the security situation at the mosques and mausoleums and more generally throughout the entire town;
    8. Calls upon the international community to support the State Party, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, in any way possible for priority conservation and management measures, and capacity building programmes;
    9. Requests the State Party to invite a joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to evaluate the general state of conservation of the property and progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures, once the situation in northern Mali is stabilized;
    10. Also requests the State Party to finalize, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM, the DSOCR proposal and a precise timetable for implementation, and to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2017, as far as is possible, for adoption by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    11. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above-mentioned points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    12. Decides to continue the application of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for the property;
    13. Also decides to retain Timbuktu (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6622 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.7 Tomb of the Askia (Mali) (C 1139) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.22, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. Regrets that the State Party was unable to submit a state of conservation report on the property, as requested by the Committee;
    4. Expresses its concern regarding the unstable security situation at Gao preventing the State Party from inviting the requested joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to evaluate the general state of conservation of the property;
    5. Also expresses its concern that the property remains under threat as regards its architectural components and the conservation and management mechanism and requests the State Party to accelerate, together with support from its partners, the implementation of the project for the Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage at Gao;
    6. Notes with satisfaction the organization in Bamako of an evaluation meeting on the state of conservation of the property based on all the technical missions, studies and activity reports, and notes and comments of site managers and representatives of the local communities, enabling the establishment of corrective measures and the initial preparation of the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
    7. Adopts the following corrective measures to ensure the conditions of integrity and authenticity of the property:
      1. For the conservation of the physical components of the property:
        1. Implement the restoration and rehabilitation work for the different components of the property to ensure their stability and consolidation,
        2. Establish and implement control measures relating to the silting up of the physical components of the property and carry out drainage and sand removal from the courtyards of the property;
        3. Safeguard and preserve the cultural and symbolic characteristics of the necropolis: 1) secure its stability with regard to the erosive action of rainwater, 2) correct the repair errors on the enclosure that affect its authenticity, 3) promote its integration into a coherent ensemble with the white stone square,
        4. Improve the amenities of the buildings, in this case, the men’s prayer rooms,
        5. Safeguard and preserve the architectural characteristics (typo-morphological) of the buffer zone,
      2. For the protection and management of the property:
        1. Revise and implement the Conservation and Management Plan for the property and the buffer zones, taking into account a risk management plan, threats to the outstanding universal value of the property and a timetable for the preventive and remedial conservation of the components of the property,
        2. Identify funding sources for the short-, medium- and long-term, to guarantee the implementation of this management plan,
        3. Prepare a conservation guide for the components of the property indicating the periodic evaluation mechanism for its state of conservation,
        4. Strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of the actors and professionals involved in the management and conservation of the property,
        5. Strengthen the operational capacities of the management structure of the property: allocation of a budget required for urgent conservation activities,
    8. Calls upon the international community to support the State Party, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, in any way possible for priority conservation and management measures, and capacity building programmes;
    9. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to evaluate the general state of conservation of the property and progress accomplished in the implementation of the corrective measures, once the situation in northern Mali is stabilized;
    10. Further requests the State Party to complete, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM, the proposed DSOCR and a clear timeframe for implementation, and to submit them to the World Heritage Centre, if possible, by 1 February 2017, for adoption by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    11. Requests furthermore that the State Party submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    12. Decides to continue the application of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism of the property;
    13. Decides to retain Tomb of Askia (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6623 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.8 Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Uganda) (C 1022) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.23, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. Notes that the State Party has halted all developments at the property pending the completion of the Master Plan;
    4. Notes with concern that no progress has been reported with the development of the Master Plan that was requested in 2012, as part of the corrective measures, in order to ensure that conservation of the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga, and other buildings, and development proposals such as for fire-fighting, visitor management and the widening of the road, are all undertaken in an integrated way within an agreed framework;
    5. Urges the State Party to progress with the development of this Master Plan and ensure that it encompasses:
      1. Ways to support Ganda architectural principles, materials, and building traditions alive, and the harmonized aesthetic of the property, and an integrated plan for development proposals, such as the provision of a reservoir and a fire-fighting system, alterations to the entrance, implementation of a visitor route or development of tourism facilities such as restaurants, and the widening of the road,
      2. A detailed site plan of the property that contains all the structures on the property, as it is now and a plan to show what is envisaged as development proposals;
    6. Also notes the revised timeline and planning for the reconstruction of the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga and considers that these need to be integrated into the Master Plan;
    7. Requests the State Party to provide a draft Master Plan to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2017, for review by the Advisory Bodies, in order to allow urgently needed work to recommence on the property;
    8. Also requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with details of the proposed plans for the firefighting equipment proposed for the property, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
    9. Further notes the revised management structure and the ongoing work management plan, including focusing on the disaster risk management plan and tourism management;
    10. Further requests the State Party to:
      1. Ensure that work on the reconstruction of the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga maintains the highest standards of quality under the supervision of the project architect,
      2. Complete the management plan for the property, and integrate a much more detailed disaster risk management plan (for fire and other potential hazards) and a tourism management plan which emphasizes the protection of the attributes of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), for review by the Advisory Bodies,
      3. Develop adequate mechanisms for communication and exchange amongst all of the stakeholders of the property to ensure that all concerns related to both conservation and social issues are dealt with in a positive manner,
      4. Provide details of the proposed widening of the Masiro Road to show that it does not encroach on the property or the bark cloth trees that line the edge of the property,
      5. Prepare detailed plans for the conservation of the Bujjabukua given its deteriorating state of conservation, so that work can begin once the Master Plan is in place; some of the thatch that is already prepared but sitting unused might be used for this important work;
    11. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    12. Decides to retain Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Uganda) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6624 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.9 Abu Mena (Egypt) (C 90) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examinedDocument WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
    2. RecallingDecisions 38 COM 7A.1 and 39 COM 7A.24, adopted at its 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions respectively,
    3. Notes that encroachments by local communities have been removed from the property and buffer zone;
    4. Expresses its great concern regarding the state of conservation of the property and the implementation level of the recommended corrective measures;
    5. Takes note that the State Party will start the elaboration of a comprehensive and integrated Management Plan for the property in 2017;
    6. Urges the State Party to resume the implementation of the corrective measures, to protect and conserve the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, with particular attention to the following issues:
      1. Prepare a conservation plan for the property, which includes a condition survey and the identification of priority interventions to ensure stabilization of archaeological remains,
      2. Initiate consultations with stakeholders including local communities to develop a programme for the removal of inadequate new constructions and the creation of facilities to allow for religious uses in areas outside the boundaries of the property and its buffer zone;
    7. Also urgesthe State Party, and in particular its Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Irrigation, to undertake an analysis of ways to address the underlying causes of the rising water table and elaborate a project to address those causes as well as mitigation measures for the archaeological remains once the water table has been lowered and stabilized;
    8. Requests the World Heritage Centre to assist the State Party in providing adequate expertise thereon, and suggests that the State Party might consider inviting a technical Advisory mission to the property, to be paid for by the State Party, to provide advice on appropriate irrigation and water management technologies;
    9. Also requeststhe State Party to submit a revised modification of the boundaries of both the property and buffer zone, in accordance with Paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;
    10. Further requeststhe State Party to submit, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, details of all on-going or planned restoration interventions at the property, particularly those at the Great Basilica, the reburial strategy, and visitor centre project, as well as initiatives arising from the project for restoration and rehabilitation of the property prepared by the Ministry of Antiquities and the Abu Mena Monastery administration, for review prior to implementation, such details to include Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA);
    11. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    12. Decides to retain Abu Mena (Egypt) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6625 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST     40 COM 7A.10 Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) (C 1130) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.25, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
    3. Encourages the State Party to pursue its efforts to ensure the protection of the property, despite the impossibility to access it;
    4. Expresses its great concern about the absence of information on the state of conservation of the property and requests the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of the evolution of the situation on the ground;
    5. Calls upon all the UNESCO Member States to comply with the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention 1954 and the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property 1970, and to cooperate to fight the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage coming from Iraq, pursuant to Resolution 2199 of the United Nations Security Council, adopted in February 2015;
    6. Also calls upon the international community to further support the safeguarding of Iraqi cultural heritage through earmarked funds;
    7. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
    8. Decides to retain Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>     https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6626 wh-support@unesco.org Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST