Decision 40 COM 13A

Follow-Up to Recommendations of Evaluations and Audits on Working Methods: Outcomes of The ad-hoc Working Group

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/13A,
2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 13 which established an ad-hoc Working Group that would meet inter-sessionally to examine the issues related to working methods of the evaluation and decision-making process of nomination and to formulate its recommendations thereon,
3. Recalling Decision 39 COM 13A, which extended the mandate of the ad-hoc Working Group composed of two members from each regional group and one extra regional group representative who is not a member of the World Heritage Committee to further discuss and make recommendations on Paragraph 61 as well as on the sustainability of the World Heritage Fund,
4. Expresses its appreciation to the Turkish leadership and the delegates of Croatia, Finland, Jamaica, Lebanon, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, United Republic of Tanzania, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and the non-Committee members of the ad-hoc working group: China, Colombia, Netherlands, Palestine, Senegal and Serbia as well as the representatives of the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre for their work;
5. Acknowledging the consensus reached after in-depth discussions in the ad-hoc Working Group and after hearing the views during the open-ended meeting, welcomes the recommendations made;
6. Refers to the Item 11, "Revision of the Operational Guidelines" of the Agenda of the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee regarding the recommendations on Paragraph 61, and to the Item 15, "Presentation of the final accounts of the World Heritage Fund for 2014-2015 and implementation of the World Heritage Fund under the biennium 2016-2017" regarding the recommendations on the sustainability of the World Heritage Fund;
7. Decides to extend the mandate of the ad-hoc Working Group composed of the members of the Committee to further discuss Paragraph 68 of the Operational Guidelines and its annexes, as well as, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, other UNESCO competent services, and the Advisory Bodies, the sustainability of the World Heritage Fund, and to report to the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee including recommendations on the following issues, inter alia:
   • Feasibility of an additional/optional Protocol,
   • Improved resource mobilisation, including a proposal for a “Forum of Donors” and revision of the Partnership Strategy,
   • Optimisation of the use of the resources of the Fund, recalling its previous decisions that conservation should be prioritised;
8. Further decides that at least two open-ended sessions of the extended ad-hoc Working Group will be held to enhance broad consensus;
9. Decides to include on the draft agenda of the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee in 2017 an item on the revision of the outcomes of the extended ad-hoc Working Group.