Decision 45 COM 7A.28

Hatra (Iraq) (C 277rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decisions 44 COM 7A.7 and 44 COM 7A.9 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Taking into account Decision 45 COM 7A.30 on the World Heritage properties of Iraq,
4. Commends the efforts undertaken to address the protection and conservation of the property, and requests the State Party to continue its efforts to the extent possible and to seek any needed further support;
5. Encourages the State Party to pursue urgent priority actions, and reminds the State Party that emergency stabilisation work should only be undertaken in cases where collapse or further damage is imminent and according to the principle of minimal intervention, and that remedial and repair work should be guided by a comprehensive conservation plan prepared in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, recalling the need to provide details of planned and ongoing projects to the World Heritage Centre for technical review by the Advisory Bodies prior to implementation, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
6. Takes note of the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission that visited the property in June 2023, and requests the State Party to implement the mission’s recommendations, in particular addressing the following:
   1. Carrying out investigations related to the water table,
   2. Finalizing the conservation plan for the Temenos area on the basis of a detailed damage assessment of its monuments, and scientific analyses, after which pilot interventions, addressing natural deterioration phenomena, could be selected and monitored over time to assess the efficacy of any proposed action,
   3. Elaborating a monitoring programme, coupled with a capacity building programme,
   4. Carrying out an assessment of potential threats in the area situated between the inner and outer city walls, including potential illegal access and encroachment, and accordingly elaborate additional possible protection measures,
   5. Initiating the preparation of a site management plan that takes into consideration requirements related to management and conservation, with a visitor management plan,
   6. Elaborating a strategy and resources for documentation management;
7. Also takes note of the work carried out towards the elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and a set of corrective measures, as well as the recommendations of the mission in this regard;
8. Adopts the following DSOCR and corrective measures:
   1. DSOCR framework:
      1. The removal of substantive threats arising from the conflict between 2014 and 2017,
      2. Improved site protection and accessibility of the site by the management team, with the reinstatement of site management facilities,
      3. Enhanced knowledge and skills with regard to conservation and management at the property,
      4. Threats to Hatra’s archaeological heritage mitigated and damage incurred as a result of the conflict addressed,
      5. Damage resulting from conflict repaired;
   2.  Corrective measures: 
      1. Reinstating the management of the property by the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) and ensuring its protection and accessibility for the local community and visitors,
      2. Enhancing capacities of professional staff of SBAH in heritage conservation and management,
      3. Undertaking site documentation, monitoring, and studies for adequate conservation and management,
      4. Repair of damage resulting from conflict,
      5. Assessing risks at monuments indirectly impacted by the conflict and addressing vulnerabilities, including through assessment, studies and urgent stabilization;

   3. Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures:

      The implementation of corrective measures should be completed within a period of one year;

9. Also requests the State Party to submit a boundary clarification to the World Heritage Centre, and consider the submission of a minor boundary modification proposal for the designation of a buffer zone, for added protection of the property, in line with paragraphs 163-164 of the Operational Guidelines;
10. Reiterates its 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;
11. Calls again on all States Parties to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
12. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
13. Decides to retain Hatra (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.