World Heritage	26 COM	

Distribution limited	
WHC-02/CONF.202/5
Paris, 6 May 2002
Original : English/French	

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL 
ORGANIZATION

CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD
CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

30th Anniversary
(1972-2002)

WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

Twenty-sixth session

Budapest, Hungary
24 - 29 June 2002

Item 9 of the Provisional Agenda:  The Budapest Declaration on World Heritage

SUMMARY
At the 26th session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee (April 2002), a working group was established to draft the Budapest Declaration on World Heritage (see WHC-02/CONF.202/2, section X). A first draft of the Budapest Declaration was circulated to all participants at the Bureau on 13 April 2002 for comments by 30 April 2002. The comments of one State Party received by the World Heritage Centre at the time of preparation of this document have been footnoted in the draft Declaration presented in this document.

Action required:

The Committee is requested to:
(i)	Have a preliminary discussion on the draft text of the Budapest Declaration (attached as Annex I);
(ii)	Establish a working group to finalise the drafting of the Budapest Declaration;
(iii)	Discuss the revised text of the Budapest Declaration proposed by the working group; and 
(iv)	Adopt the text of the Budapest Declaration.
I.	
I.	PURPOSE OF THE BUDAPEST DECLARATION 

1.	The Budapest Declaration is proposed as a way for the World Heritage Committee to:

(i)	mark and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention;
(ii)	reflect on the successes and limitations of the Convention over the last 30 years;
(iii)	establish and communicate new strategic objectives; and,
(iv)	call for new partnerships to foster World Heritage conservation.

II.	OBJECTIVES

2.	The working group of the 26th session of the Bureau suggested that the Budapest Declaration provide a broad perspective as to the past and future of the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. The Declaration should serve to increase awareness and support for World Heritage as well as promoting the establishment of new partnerships. 

III.	FORMAT AND CONTENT

3.	The working group of the 26th session of the Bureau  agreed that the Budapest Declaration should be a short celebratory document with a clear and concrete message. The language should be direct and 'user friendly' allowing the Declaration to be accessible to different and new audiences as a widely used text.  The Declaration should be an action-oriented document with short- and long-term objectives being established and with a system being set up for their follow-up and monitoring.  

4.	A detailed Action Plan could be annexed to the Declaration that would identify how the Strategic Objectives of the Committee (Credibility, Conservation and Capacity-Building) would be translated into actions. This Action Plan would outline the short- term objectives of the Committee and guide its work in the forthcoming years.

IV.	TARGET AUDIENCE(S) FOR THE BUDAPEST DECLARATION

5.	The working group of the 26th session of the Bureau agreed that the target audiences of the Budapest Declaration should include new actors who could become involved in the conservation of World Heritage. Emphasis should be placed on promoting further participation from the private sector, local authorities, media and non-traditional decision-makers. The participation of young people should be further encouraged and their views given more consideration. 

V.	PROPOSED PROCESS FOR THE FINALISATION OF THE BUDAPEST DECLARATION BY THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

6.	It is proposed that the Committee establish a working group to discuss and finalise the draft text of the Budapest Declaration during its 26th session.  It is proposed that the working group include representatives of the twenty-one Committee members, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre.

VI.	PRESENTATION OF THE BUDAPEST DECLARATION TO THE VENICE CONGRESS, NOVEMBER 2002

7.	The Working Group of the 26th session of the Bureau considered it important for the Chairperson of the Committee to have the opportunity to present the Budapest Declaration to the Venice Congress in November 2002.

VII.	DRAFT BUDAPEST DECLARATION ON WORLD HERITAGE

8.	The draft of the Budapest Declaration prepared by the working group of the 26th session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee is attached as Annex I. 

Annex I

Budapest [Declaration/Commitment] on World Heritage

(Draft prepared by the Working Group established by the 26th
session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, April 2002)

1. In 2002, the World Heritage Committee on behalf of the States Parties, celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Natural and Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 1972) and the United Nations Year of Cultural Heritage.

2. In the light of the thirty years history of implementation it became evident that since its inception the World Heritage Convention has proven to be a unique  instrument of international co-operation in the protection of cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value.

3.  We, the members of the World Heritage Committee, recognize the universality of the Convention and the consequent need to ensure that its scheme of protection applies to heritage in all its diversity.  

4. We acknowledge that the Convention is becoming increasingly relevant to the well-being and development of our societies. 
[Text proposed by South Africa: We acknowledge the growing relevance of the Convention to the well-being and development of our society through mutual understanding.
Text proposed by Australia: The Convention is becoming increasingly relevant to the well-being and development of our societies and an important contribution to mutual understanding and dialogue.
Text proposed by IUCN: (...) to mutual understanding, dialogue and peace.]

5. The properties on the World Heritage List are assets held in trust to pass on to generations of the future as their rightful inheritance.  

 We care for these sites from the deepest forests to the highest mountains, from ancient villages to magnificent buildings, so that the diverse landscapes and cultures of the world be forever protected. 

 We value this heritage so that in centuries to come, people will be able to rejoice in nature and marvel at human spirit and creativity. Future generations will be able to commit themselves, in a spirit of partnership and co-operation, to carry this responsibility forward.

6. The World Heritage Committee conveys the following appeal to the international community as we continue to face increasing challenges to our shared heritage:

 We encourage countries that have not yet joined the World Heritage Convention, [and/or] other related international heritage protection instruments, to do so at the earliest opportunity to share the spirit of our Commitment;

 We invite States Parties to the World Heritage Convention to identify and nominate cultural and natural heritage, in its broadest understanding, for inclusion on the World Heritage List;

 We will seek to ensure an appropriate and equitable balance between conservation, sustainability and development, so that World Heritage properties can be protected while the quality of life of our communities is improved, through appropriate activities such as sustainable tourism;

 We will join in efforts to co-operate in the protection of heritage, recognizing that the destruction of heritage does not destroy their place in human memory and spirit;
[Text proposed by Australia: (...), recognizing that the attempted destruction of our heritage is an act of harm to the human spirit and the world's inheritance.
Text proposed by Argentina: (...), recognizing that such heritage also has a place in human memory and spirit, so it cannot be destroyed.]

 We will promote World Heritage through communication, education, research, training and public awareness strategies; 

 We will seek to ensure the active involvement of our local communities and [indigenous peoples] in the identification, protection and management of our World Heritage properties;

7. We, the World Heritage Committee, will commit ourselves to co-operate with all countries, UNESCO, and its World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies recognised by the Convention and new partners in our quest for support for World Heritage seeking their assistance in ensuring the highest standards of management and conservation. 

8. For this purpose, we invite all interested parties to co-operate, to promote in the next five years, the following objectives:

•	Strengthen the credibility of the World Heritage List, as a representative and geographically balanced [catalogue/inventory/testimony] of cultural and natural properties of outstanding universal value.

•	Ensure the effective and sustainable conservation of World Heritage properties. 

•	Promote the development of an effective capacity-building mechanism for the understanding and implementation of the World Heritage Convention and related instruments; and

9. We will evaluate, at our 31st session in 2007, the achievements made in the pursuit 
of the above mentioned objectives and in support of this Commitment.

Done in Budapest, on  June,  2002