Decision 39 COM 7B.38

Historic Town of Grand-Bassam (Côte d’Ivoire) (C 1322rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 36 COM 8B.17 and 37 COM 7B.37, adopted respectively at its 36th (St. Petersburg, 2012) and 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) sessions,
3. Commends the State Party for the implementation of most of the points raised in Decisions 36 COM 8B.17 and 37 COM 7B.37, and for the various cooperation initiatives developed at national level between stakeholders, and at international bilateral and multilateral levels;
4. Takes note of the extension of the boundaries of the buffer zone and encourages the State Party to continue its reflection on the revision of the boundaries of the zone;
5. Notes with satisfaction the State Party's efforts for the establishment of the Heritage House and the development of conservation and daily management tools for the architectural, urban and landscape heritage, and for the restoration operations and the monitoring of natural threats;
6. Requests the State Party to implement the specific actions required by Decisions 36 COM 8B.17 and 37 COM 7B.37 and reflected in the Action Plan to strengthen the protection and conservation of the property and bearing on the following themes:
   1. Urban conservation, planning and integrated urban development, taking into account the historic urban landscape and archival documentation,
   2. Training and capacity building in architectural, urban and landscape conservation at local and national level,
   3. Strengthening of financial resources and the technical and administrative capacities of the Heritage House to raise funds and implement activities,
   4. Application of emergency and restoration measures in conformity with the old Palais de Justice;
7. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016 an updated report, including a 1-page analytical summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above for review by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.