Policy Compendium
5. "[The World Heritage Committee] decides to maintain credibility, conservation, capacity building and communication as strategic objectives in the implementation of the Convention whilst restating the different components and, recognizing the critical importance of involving indigenous, traditional and local communities in the implementation of the Convention, further decides to add ‘communities’ as a fifth strategic objective."
Theme: | 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders |
Decision: | 31 COM 13A |
Theme: | 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders |
Decision: | 35 COM 12E |
Theme: | 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders |
Decision: | 41 COM 7 |
Theme: | 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders |
Decision: | 42 COM 5B |
Theme: | 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders |
Decision: | 42 COM 7 |
The World Heritage Committee requests State Parties to ensure that any relocation is carried out with the consent of the population concerned, and also requests to engage with communities in case of relocation, by ensuring an evaluation of the impact of the relocation and effective consultation processes, as well as appropriate compensation of the affected local communities (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders |
See for examples Decisions: | 39 COM 7A.10 41 COM 7B.97 43 COM 7B.39 43 COM 7B.76 43 COM 7B.6 43 COM 7B.4 |
The World Heritage Committee encourages States Parties to promote the customary governance and use of the sites, including the promotion of engagement of customary owners in decision-making processes (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders |
See for examples Decisions: | 35 COM 7B.15 42 COM 7B.66 43 COM 7A.2 |
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions
The World Heritage Committee requests the States Parties to take urgent action to strengthen its efforts to ensure that human rights concerns are addressed and provide a full response to human right abuses in accordance with relevant international standards (based on case law on decisions on State of Conservation and Nomination).
Theme: |
6.2 - Human rights and rights-based approach 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
See for examples Decisions: | 44 COM 7A.44 44 COM 7B.174 44 COM 7B.188 |
15. "(...)
e) [The World Heritage Committee encourages States Parties to] involve indigenous peoples and local communities in decision making, monitoring and evaluation of the state of conservation of the properties and their Outstanding Universal Value and link the direct community benefits to protection outcomes;
f) [The World Heritage Committee encourages States Parties to] respect the rights of indigenous peoples when nominating, managing and reporting on World Heritage sites in indigenous peoples' territories."
Theme: | 6.4 - Indigenous peoples |
Decision: | 35 COM 12E |
Theme: | 6.4 - Indigenous peoples |
Decision: | 41 COM 7 |
The World Heritage Committee requests States Parties to assess the impacts of grazing, hunting and other human traditional activities on the biodiversity in the traditional use zone and develop a policy for the sustainable use of the natural resources in the traditional use zones in the property in close cooperation with the indigenous communities using these areas (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.4 - Indigenous peoples |
See for examples Decisions: | 32 COM 7B.41 36 COM 7B.25 40 COM 7B.79 |
The World Heritage Committee requests to take into account the property uses by the indigenous populations, and encourages consultation and involvement in decision-making with resource-dependent communities in and around the property, to find mutually acceptable ways to resolve any potential use conflicts, while respecting any rights of use, and on the basis of an accurate assessment of impacts from resource use on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.4 - Indigenous peoples |
See for examples Decisions: | 34 COM 7B.1 39 COM 7A.19 40 COM 7B.88 |
The World Heritage Committee requests that any development project to count with all elements of due process to achieve Free, Prior and Informed Consent by indigenous communities having territorial rights in the affected lands (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.4 - Indigenous peoples |
See for examples Decisions: | 37 COM 7B.30 39 COM 7B.28 44 COM 7A.44 |
The World Heritage Committee requests to protect the indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation and in initial contact from external pressures (based on Case law of decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.4 - Indigenous peoples |
See for examples Decisions: | 35 COM 7B.34 |
The World Heritage Committee requests States Parties to strengthen the cooperation with local communities, civil society and in particular the indigenous communities, including consideration of traditional knowledge for the management of the property (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.4 - Indigenous peoples |
See for examples Decisions: | 36 COM 7B.25 43 COM 7A.2 |
Theme: | 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
Decision: | 41 COM 7A.50 42 COM 7A.36 |
Theme: | 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
Decision: | 37 COM 7 |
4. "[The World Heritage Committee] urges all parties associated with conflicts to refrain from any action that would cause further damage to cultural heritage and to fulfil their obligations under international law by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, in particular the safeguarding of World Heritage properties and the sites included in the Tentative List;
5. Also urges the States Parties to adopt measures for the evacuation of World Heritage properties being used for military purposes."
Theme: | 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
Decision: | 39 COM 7 |
13. "[The World Heritage Committee] launches an appeal to all Member States of UNESCO to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage objects (UNESCO 1970 Convention) and illegal wildlife trade, including through the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and to pursue the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding cultural heritage protection in conflict areas, especially Resolution 2199 and 2347."
Theme: | 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
Decision: | 41 COM 7 |
Theme: | 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
Decision: | 42 COM 7 |
The World Heritage Policy Compendium was elaborated thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of Australia.
The World Heritage Policy Compendium On-line tool was developed thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of Korea.