State of Conservation (SOC)
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (2005)
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property
Requests Approved: 0
(from1982-1982)
Total Amount Ap proved: 100,000USD
| 1982 | 32-month expert services to undertake an architectural survey of ... | 100,000 USD |
Missions**
February-March 2004, World Heritage Centre-ICOMOS-ICCROM
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
· Natural risk factors
· Planning, governance and management processes
· Impact of archaeological research
· Conservation of archaeological heritage
· Deterioration of monuments
· Alteration of the built fabric, urban environment and visual integrity
· Traffic, access and circulation
· Tourism management.
Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues
At the 28th session of the Committee (Suzhou, 2004), the World Heritage Centre presented a report on the state of conservation of the Old City of Jerusalem based on previous reports by the Special Advisers to the Director-General of UNESCO for Jerusalem, and on the report of the mission carried out in February-March 2004 by UNESCO, the Director-General of ICCROM and the President of ICOMOS (Document WHC-04/28.COM/15A).
This issue has been also examined by the Executive Board and the General Conference of UNESCO. 32 C/Resolution 39 (adopted by the General Conference in October 2003) reiterated “its support for the initiative announced by the Director-General at the 31st session of the General Conference to prepare a comprehensive plan of action to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem”. Paragraph 7 of 170 EX/Decision 3.6.1. adopted by the Executive Board in October 2004, encouraged the Director-General “to continue his efforts for the establishment, as soon as possible, of the international committee of independent experts, highly qualified technically and professionally, entrusted with proposing the guidelines of the programmed plan of action and proposals for its implementation and to do so in consultation with the parties concerned”.
Therefore,the Director-General of UNESCO invited aCommittee, composed of twelve high level experts, to meet at UNESCO Headquarters on 26 and 27 January 2005. The experts first reviewed the factors affecting the state of conservation of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem. On this basis, the experts defined the approach for UNESCO’s action and identified possible activities, stressing the need for immediate concrete and visible projects focusing on awareness-raising, community participation and capacity-building. A set of guidelines was agreed upon, providing UNESCO with a framework for elaborating the Action Plan. Based on the guidelines set and proposals made by the Committee of experts, and taking into account the level of resources which will be made available, the Secretariat has started elaborating the Action Plan, and will do so in close consultation with all the concerned parties. Thanks notably to financial contributions expected from the Governments of Italy and Spain, new developments towards safeguarding activities in the Old City of Jerusalem are foreseen in the near future.
Conclusion
Decision
29COM7A.31
Link to the decision
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29 COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 15A.31 adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),
3. Referring to 171 EX/Decision 18, taken at the 171st session of the Executive Board of UNESCO (April 2005), notably “affirming that nothing, in the present decision, which aims at the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, shall in any way affect the relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, in particular the relevant Security Council resolutions on the legal status of Jerusalem”,
4. Reiterates its concern as to the threats to the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, as stated in Decision 28 COM 15A.31;
5. Takes note with satisfaction of the continuing efforts of the Director-General of UNESCO in pursuing a comprehensive initiative for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem;
6. Welcomes and supports the preparation by UNESCO of an Action Plan based on the set of guidelines provided by the International Committee of Experts, as well as proposals for its implementation, in coordination with the concerned parties;
7. Requests the World Heritage Centre to report on the progress of these recommendations for examination by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
8. Decides to retain the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls on the List of World Heritage in Danger.Draft Decision: 29 COM 7A.31
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29 COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling decision 28 COM 15A.31 adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),
3. Referring to 171 EX/Decision 18 taken at the 171st session of the Executive Board of UNESCO in April 2005, notably “affirming that nothing, in the present decision, which aims at the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, shall in any way affect the relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, in particular the relevant Security Council resolutions on the legal status of Jerusalem”,
4. Reiterates its concern as to the threats to the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, as stated in Decision 28 COM 15A.31;
5. Takes note with satisfaction of the continuing efforts of the Director-General of UNESCO in pursuing a comprehensive initiative for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem;
6. Welcomes and supports the preparation by UNESCO of an Action Plan based on the set of guidelines provided by the International Committee of experts, as well as proposals for its implementation;
7. Requests the World Heritage Centre to report on the progress of these recommendations for examination by the Committee at its 30th session in 2006;
8. Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls
Jerusalem (Site proposed by Jordan)Exports
Word File Threats*
- Housing
- Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
- Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation
- Governance
- Management systems/ management plan
- High impact research/monitoring activities
- Other Threats:
a) Natural risk factors; b) Conservation of archaeological heritage; c) Deterioration of monuments; d) Alteration of the built fabric.
Documents
WHC-05/29.COM/7A.AddOther Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...SOC ID: 1260
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 1982Threats to the Site:
(cf. Document CLT 82/CH/CONF.015/8)
“[…] they considered that the situation of this property corresponds to the criteria mentioned in the ICOMOS note and, in particular, to criteria (e) (significant loss of historical authenticity) and (f) (important loss of cultural significance) as far as "ascertained danger" is concerned, and to criteria (a) (modification of juridical status of the property diminishing the degree of its protection), (b) (lack of conservation policy) and (d) (threatening effects of town planning) as far as "potential danger" is concerned. […]”
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
