Decision 39 COM 7B.37

Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin) (C 323bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.46, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Expresses its great concern following the fire that destroyed the roofs of eight of the ten huts that comprise the property and considers that this catastrophe represents a threat to the integrity of the property;
4. Takes note of the progress achieved by the State Party in the implementation of the plan for the management, conservation and enhancement of the property involving protection and rehabilitation work to reinforce the integrity of the areas and avoid frequent infiltrations; thanks the partners for their support and encourages them to continue and strengthen their support;
5. Strongly urges the State Party to increase efforts to improve the governance, organization and implementation of the monitoring, coordination and involvement mechanisms of the different parties concerned in the general management of the property, and in particular in the prevention of catastrophes;
6. Requests the State Party to finalize, without delay, the risk management plan, proceed with the revision of its plan for the management, conservation and enhancement of the property, and submit these documents to the World Heritage Centre for examination by the Advisory Bodies;
7. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to evaluate the state of conservation of the property, in particular the vulnerability of the roofs of the huts and to propose priority measures for the prevention of fire risks, sustainable conservation and protection;
8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report including a 1-page summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.