Decision 14 EXT.COM 4

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/20/14.EXT.COM/4,
2. Recalling the extreme exceptional circumstances that prevailed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide,
3. Also recalling Decision COM/BUR.1.3 by which the Bureau of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, taking into account the prevailing sanitary situation worldwide, including travel restrictions, considered that the conditions for a session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020 were not met,
4. Decides to hold an extended 44th session in June/July 2021 in Fuzhou (China);
5. Also decides that all items and sub-items that were foreseen for examination in 2020 and 2021 by its previous decisions, be examined at its extended 44th session in 2021;
6. Requests the Advisory Bodies to propose an exceptional extension of the deadlines in accordance with the Operational Guidelines and without creating a precedent for the completion of pending Evaluation missions for nominations to be presented for examination by the World Heritage Committee in the year 2021, so as to allow the largest number of files, from the broadest geographical base, to be examined at its extended 44th session;
7. Further decides that nominations presented for examination of the World Heritage Committee in the year 2021 that could not be examined at its extended 44th session be examined at its 45th session, without prejudice to the nominations presented for examination of the World Heritage Committee in 2022, in accordance with the timeframe foreseen in Paragraph 168 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention;
8. Further recalling Decision 43 COM 17 by which it adopted the Provisional Agenda of its 44th session that should have been held in 2020, adopts the following amended Provisional Agenda for its extended 44th session to be held in 2021 [amendments in bold]:

Provisional Agenda of the extended 44th session in 2021:

Opening session

1. Opening session
2. Admission of Observers

3A.    Adoption of the Agenda

3B.    Adoption of the Timetable

Reports

5A.    Report of the World Heritage Centre on its activities and the implementation of the World Heritage Committee’s decisions

5B.    Reports of the Advisory Bodies

5C.    Progress report on Priority Africa, Sustainable Development and World Heritage

5D.    World Heritage Convention and Sustainable Development

Examination of the state of conservation

7A.    State of conservation of World Heritage properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

7B.    State of conservation of World Heritage properties inscribed on the World Heritage List

7C.    Draft Updated Policy Document on the impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage properties

Establishment of the World Heritage List and of the List of World Heritage in Danger

8A.    Tentative Lists submitted by States Parties

8B.    Nominations to the World Heritage List

8C.    Update of the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger

8D.    Clarifications of property boundaries and areas by States Parties

8E.    Review and approval of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value

Global Strategy for a representative, balanced and credible World Heritage List

9A.    Upstream Process

Periodic Reports

10A. Report on the results of the Third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in the Arab States

10B. Report on the results of the Third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in Africa

10C.  Progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan(s) for the 2nd Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the other regions

10D.  Progress report on the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the other regions

Working methods and tools

Financial and administrative matters

Closing session