Policy Compendium
DecisionsYesclose
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.1 - Fundamental World Heritage policies
"Members of the World Heritage Committee may stand again for election after a gap of 6 years after the expiry of their mandate."
| Theme: | 1.1.2 - World Heritage Committee |
| Resolution: | 1 EXT.GA 3 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.1 - Fundamental World Heritage policies
14. "[The World Heritage Committee] recommends Committee members consider refraining from bringing forward new nominations that might be discussed during their term serving on the Committee, without prejudice to nomination files already submitted, deferred or referred during previous Committee sessions, or nominations from least represented States Parties (…)."
| Theme: | 1.1.2 - World Heritage Committee |
| Decision: | 35 COM 12B |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.1 - Fundamental World Heritage policies
14. "[The World Heritage Committee] Recognizes that the selection of the state of conservation reports to be discussed by the Committee during its sessions should be based on clear and objective criteria, including the level of threat to the property, rather than being based on representativity."
| Theme: |
1.1.2 - World Heritage Committee 3.2.3 - Reactive Monitoring |
| Decision: | 43 COM 7.1 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.1 - Fundamental World Heritage policies
“[The General Assembly] Recalls (…) that the payment of assessed annual contributions to the World Heritage Fund is a legal obligation incumbent on all States Parties which have ratified the Convention."
| Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
| Resolution: | 23 GA 7 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.1 - Fundamental World Heritage policies
7. Takes note of the options proposed for allocating unrestricted supplementary voluntary contributions to the World Heritage Fund and, in order to help towards the sustainability of the World Heritage Fund, recommends to States Parties willing to make these contributions to apply one of the following options:
- Option 1: Increasing the standard percentage used in the calculation of the contributions to the World Heritage Fund from 1% to 2%.
| Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
| Resolution: | 19 GA 8 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.1 - Fundamental World Heritage policies
4. “[The World Heritage Committee] encourages the World Heritage Centre to develop bilateral agreements with States Parties as well as partnerships with multilateral organisations, the private sector and other actors with a view to securing additional resources for the following priorities:
(ii) Emergency International Assistance,
(iii) International Assistance to properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger,
(iv) Other International Assistance to States Parties, with priority to Preparatory Assistance,
(v) Funds to ensure that the Advisory Bodies have sufficient resources to enable them fulfill their obligations under the Convention”.
(i) Reinforcement of the staff of the World Heritage Centre,
(ii) Emergency International Assistance,
(iii) International Assistance to properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger,
(iv) Other International Assistance to States Parties, with priority to Preparatory Assistance,
(v) Funds to ensure that the Advisory Bodies have sufficient resources to enable them fulfill their obligations under the Convention”.
| Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
| Decision: | 27 COM 11.3 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.1 - Fundamental World Heritage policies
6. Emphasizing the urgency of securing adequate financial resources to achieve the objectives of the 1972 Conventionto identify and, in particular, to conserve the world's cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value, especially in light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and unprecedented threats such as climate change, natural disasters, and deliberate attacks on cultural heritage in territories affected by armed conflicts and terrorism.
8. Underscoring that sustainability of the World Heritage Fund and overall funding for World Heritage are a strategic issue and a shared responsibility which concerns States Parties and relevant partners, affecting the overall credibility of the World Heritage Convention, including effectiveness and efficiency of World Heritage protection.
17. [The World Heritage Committee] underscores that the highest ethical standards and principles must be upheld in all measures to enhance fundraising to maintain and promote the integrity of the Convention.
| Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
| Decision: | 41 COM 14 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.1 - Fundamental World Heritage policies
2. [The World Heritage Committee] highlight[s] the priority that should be given to conservation and management of World Heritage properties, takes note of the efforts made and progress achieved in this regard by increasing the proportion of the World Heritage Fund dedicated to conservation for the latest biennia and encourages further increase of this proportion, as appropriate;
4. [The World Heritage Committee] recalls that the payment of compulsory and assessed voluntary contributions is, as per Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention, an obligation incumbent on all States Parties which have ratified the Convention (…).
4. [The World Heritage Committee] recalls that the payment of compulsory and assessed voluntary contributions is, as per Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention, an obligation incumbent on all States Parties which have ratified the Convention (…).
| Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
| Decision: | 42 COM 14 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
7. "[The General Assembly] urges the States Parties to participate in the United Nations climate change conferences with a view to achieving a comprehensive post-Kyoto agreement, and to fund and support the research needs as identified in the adopted Policy document."
| Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
| Resolution: | 16 GA 10 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
15. "[The World Heritage Committee] recommends that the World Heritage Centre strengthen its relations with other organizations working on Climate Change, particularly with the UNFCCC and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) secretariats, and specifically with regard to the effect of Climate Change on World Heritage properties (…)."
| Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
| Decision: | 40 COM 7 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
22. "[The World Heritage Committee] reiterates the importance of States Parties undertaking the most ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (…) and strongly invites all States Parties to ratify the Paris Agreement at the earliest possible opportunity and to undertake actions to address Climate Change under the Paris Agreement consistent with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances, that are fully consistent with their obligations within the World Heritage Convention to protect the OUV of all World Heritage properties."
| Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
| Decision: | 41 COM 7 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
37. "[The World Heritage Committee] highlights the need to strengthen cooperation with other cultural heritage and biodiversity-related Conventions and intergovernmental programmes, with a view to contributing to improved conservation and sustainable management of World Heritage."
| Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
| Decision: | 41 COM 14 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
5. "[The World Heritage Committee] welcomes the increased collaboration among the Biodiversity-related Conventions through the Biodiversity Liaison Group and focused activities, including workshops, joint statements and awareness-raising."
| Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
| Decision: | 42 COM 5A |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
21. "[The World Heritage Committee] appeals to all Member States of UNESCO to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural objects and illegal wildlife trade, as well as cultural heritage protection in general, including through the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2199 (2015), 2253 (2015) and 2347 (2017) and of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import and Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property."
| Theme: |
1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
| Decision: | 42 COM 7 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
5. "[The World Heritage Committee] Invites the States Parties undertaking activities towards the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to include synergies with the WH-SDP [(Policy Document for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention)], whenever possible, in order to tap into the potential of the World Heritage Convention to contribute to sustainable development."
| Theme: |
1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes 3.7 - Sustainable development |
| Decision: | 43 COM 5C |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
5. "[The World Heritage Committee] Recognizes the specifically delicate task of balancing World Heritage and Sustainable Development by the least developed countries, notably of the African region, given that it is faced with a disproportionally higher level of poverty globally;
6. Further recognizes the need to employ innovative and transformative solutions for reconciling World Heritage and Sustainable Development that will take into account the nature, complexity and specificity of socio-economic constraints that these less developed countries continue to face;
(...)
11. Further calls upon African States Parties to focus their development efforts to benefit local communities, including them in the decision-making, and building on their knowledge and needs with progressive and proactive conservation of natural and cultural heritage; and to create enabling environments for innovative solutions inclusive of green and blue economies while progressing towards other SDGs."
6. Further recognizes the need to employ innovative and transformative solutions for reconciling World Heritage and Sustainable Development that will take into account the nature, complexity and specificity of socio-economic constraints that these less developed countries continue to face;
(...)
11. Further calls upon African States Parties to focus their development efforts to benefit local communities, including them in the decision-making, and building on their knowledge and needs with progressive and proactive conservation of natural and cultural heritage; and to create enabling environments for innovative solutions inclusive of green and blue economies while progressing towards other SDGs."
| Theme: |
1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes 3.7 - Sustainable development |
| Decision: | 43 COM 5D |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
9. "[The World Heritage Committee] Reiterates its utmost concern about the continuing threats of wildlife poaching and illegal trafficking of wildlife products linked to impacts of conflict and organized crime, which is eroding the biodiversity and Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of many World Heritage sites across the world, and urges States Parties to take the necessary measures to curb this problem, including through the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES);"
| Theme: |
1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes 3.5.9 - Other human activities 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
| Decision: | 43 COM 7.2 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
10. "[The World Heritage Committee] Acknowledging the contribution of sustainable tourism to the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and the positive impact it can have on local communities and the protection of World Heritage properties, nevertheless notes with concern that the number of properties negatively affected by overcrowding, congestion and tourism infrastructure development continues to increase;
11. Noting that the protection of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) must be a central objective for all World Heritage properties, requests States Parties to develop visitor management plans and strategies that address the seasonality of tourism (smoothing visitor numbers over time and spreading visitors across sites), encourage longer more in-depth experiences promoting tourism products and services that reflect natural and cultural values, and limit access and activities to improve visitor flows and experiences, while reducing pressures on the attributes which underpin OUV."
11. Noting that the protection of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) must be a central objective for all World Heritage properties, requests States Parties to develop visitor management plans and strategies that address the seasonality of tourism (smoothing visitor numbers over time and spreading visitors across sites), encourage longer more in-depth experiences promoting tourism products and services that reflect natural and cultural values, and limit access and activities to improve visitor flows and experiences, while reducing pressures on the attributes which underpin OUV."
| Theme: |
1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes 3.5.8 - Social/cultural uses of heritage 3.6 - Tourism and visitor management |
| Decision: | 43 COM 7.3 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.3 - Shared Responsibility and International Cooperation
"3. [The General Assembly recalls] that the “Declaration of principles to promote international solidarity and cooperation to preserve World Heritage” is not legally binding, but that stakeholders are called upon to honour its contents."
https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2021/whc21-23ga-13-en.pdf
https://whc.unesco.org/document/190279/p=code2021| Theme: | 1.3.1 - General |
| Resolution: | 23 GA 10 |
1 - General Policies Regarding the World Heritage Convention
1.3 - Shared Responsibility and International Cooperation
23. "[The World Heritage Committee] urges States Parties, in coordination with the World Heritage Centre, to give priority within international assistance in implementing emergency measures to mitigate significant damages resulting from natural disasters that are likely to affect the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties."
| Theme: | 1.3.2 - International Assistance |
| Decision: | 42 COM 7 |
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3.6 - Tourism and visitor management
3.7 - Sustainable development
4.1 - General capacity-building policies
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6.4 - Indigenous peoples
6.5 - Youth
6.6 - Fostering of peace and security
1.1.3 - Funding
1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with ...
1.3.1 - General
1.3.2 - International Assistance
1.4 - Heritage policies at national level
1.5 - Relation between culture and nature
2.1 - Nominations to the World Heritage List
2.2.1 - Outstanding Universal Value: definition and ...
2.2.2.1 - General
2.2.2.2 - Specific considerations related to criterion ...
2.2.3 - Authenticity
2.2.4 - Integrity
2.2.5.3 - Management systems
2.2.5.5 - Impact assessment
2.2.6.1 - Boundaries
2.2.6.2 - Buffer Zones
2.3 - Global Strategy for a Representative, Balanced ...
2.4 - Upstream Process
2.5 - Tentative Lists
2.6 - Comparative studies
2.7.1 - Cultural, Natural and Mixed Properties
2.7.2 - Transboundary and transnational properties
2.7.3 - Serial properties
2.7.4.1 - General
2.7.4.2 - Historic Urban Landscapes
3.1 - Protection, conservation and management of World ...
3.2.1 - General
3.2.3 - Reactive Monitoring
3.2.4 - List of World Heritage in Danger
3.3 - Impact assessments
3.4 - Disaster risks management
3.5.1 - Buildings and development
3.5.2 - Transportation infrastructure
3.5.3 - Utilities or service infrastructure
3.5.4 - Pollution
3.5.5 - Biological resource use/modification
3.5.6 - Physical resource extraction
3.5.7 - Local conditions affecting the fabric
3.5.8 - Social/cultural uses of heritage
3.5.9 - Other human activities
3.5.10 - Climate change and severe weather events
3.5.11 - Sudden ecological or geological events
3.5.12 - Invasive/alien species or hyper-abundant ...
3.5.13 - Management and institutional factors
3.6 - Tourism and visitor management
3.7 - Sustainable development
4.1 - General capacity-building policies
5.1 - Education and awareness-raising
5.2 - Interpretation
6.1 - Participation of local communities and other ...
6.2 - Human rights and rights-based approach
6.4 - Indigenous peoples
6.5 - Youth
6.6 - Fostering of peace and security
The World Heritage Policy Compendium was elaborated thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of Australia.
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