Decision 41 COM 7A.34

Hatra (Iraq) (C 277rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7A.11, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Expresses its great concern about the state of conservation of the property, following intentional destructive acts, and about the continuing lack of detailed information on the state of conservation of the property, and requests the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed about the situation on the ground;
4. Encourages the State Party to continue to pursue its efforts to ensure the protection of the property, despite the difficult prevailing situation, and in particular to start implementing urgently the priority actions outlined at the February 2017 International Coordination Conference on the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Liberated Areas of Iraq, with the support of UNESCO and the international community;
5. Also encourages the State Party to carry out a rapid emergency assessment of the damages incurred, in close collaboration with UNESCO, before undertaking emergency actions and as soon as the situation allows;
6. Urges all parties associated with the situation in Iraq to refrain from any action that would cause further damage to cultural heritage of the country and to fulfil their obligations under international law by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage;
7. Launches an appeal to all Member States of UNESCO to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage coming from Iraq as per the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2199 of February 2015, 2253 of December 2015 and 2347 of March 2017;
8. Calls on all UNESCO Member States to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
9. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, 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 42nd session in 2018;
10. Decides to retain Hatra (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.