Policy Compendium
21. “(…) The World Heritage Committee specifically encourages the effective and equitable involvement and participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in decision-making, monitoring and evaluation of World Heritage properties and the respect of indigenous peoples’ rights in nominating, managing and reporting on World Heritage properties in their own territories. Recognising rights and fully involving indigenous peoples and local communities, in line with international standards is at the heart of sustainable development”.
22. “(...) States parties should:
i. Develop relevant standards, guidance and operational mechanisms for indigenous peoples and local community involvement in World Heritage processes;
ii. Ensure adequate consultations, the free, prior and informed consent and equitable and effective participation of indigenous peoples where World Heritage nomination, management and policy measures affect their territories, lands, resources and ways of life;
iii. Actively promote indigenous and local initiatives to develop equitable governance arrangements, collaborative management systems and, when appropriate, redress mechanisms;
iv. Support appropriate activities contributing to the building of a sense of shared responsibility for heritage among indigenous people and local communities, by recognizing both universal and local values within management systems for World Heritage properties”.
Theme: | 6.4 - Indigenous peoples |
Source: | Policy for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention (WHC-15/20.GA/INF.13) |
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 |
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions
The World Heritage Committee encourages States Parties and local communities to maintain their efforts with regard to the mobilisation and full involvement of the youth in the conservation of the property (based on case law on decisions on State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.5 - Youth |
See for examples Decisions: | 38 COM 7B.52 43 COM 7A.55 43 COM 7A.53 43 COM 7A.52 43 COM 8B.14 44 COM 7B.10 |
Paragraph 241
“[International Assistance could be dedicated to] stimulate joint education, information and promotional programmes and activities, especially when they involve the participation of young people for the benefit of World Heritage conservation.
[International Assistance could be dedicated] at the national level for meetings specifically organized to make the Convention better known, especially amongst young people (…) [and for the] preparation and discussion of education and information material (…) for the general promotion of the Convention and the World Heritage List (…), and especially for young people”.
Theme: | 6.5 - Youth |
Source: | OG Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (WHC.19/01 - 10 July 2019) |
Theme: | 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
Decision: | 41 COM 7A.50 42 COM 7A.36 |
28. “Sustainable development and the conservation of the world’s cultural and natural heritage are undermined by war, civil conflict and all forms of violence. The World Heritage Convention is an integral part of UNESCO’s established mandate to build bridges towards peace and security. It is therefore incumbent upon States Parties, in conformity also with provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The 1954 Hague Convention) and its two (1954 and 1999) Protocols, for the States that have ratified them, as well as in accordance with the UNESCO Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage (2003) and international customary law protecting cultural property in the event of armed conflict, to ensure that the implementation of the World Heritage Convention is used to promote the achievement and maintenance of peace and security between and within States Parties”.
29. “Recalling also the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001), States Parties should therefore acknowledge the reality of cultural diversity within and around many World Heritage properties, and promote a culturally pluralistic approach in strategies for their conservation and management. States Parties should also recognise that peace and security, including freedom from conflict, discrimination and all forms of violence, require respect for human rights, effective systems of justice, inclusive political processes and appropriate systems of conflict prevention, resolution and post-conflict recovery”.
30. “States Parties have a critically important role to play in ensuring that the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, including the establishment of the World Heritage List and management of inscribed properties, are used to prevent conflicts between and within States Parties and to promote respect for cultural diversity and around World Heritage properties (…)”.
31. “During armed conflict, States Parties must refrain from any use of World Heritage properties and their immediate surroundings for purposes which are likely to expose them to destruction or damage. They must also refrain from any act of hostility directed against such properties (…)”.
32. “The inherent potential of World Heritage properties and of their conservation to contribute favourably to conflict resolution and re-establishment of peace and security should be acknowledged and harnessed (…)”
33. “During a conflict and in the post-conflict transition phase, World Heritage properties and their wider settings can make a significant contribution to recovery and socio-economic reconstruction (…)”.
Theme: | 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
Source: | Policy for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention (WHC-15/20.GA/INF.13) |
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 |
The World Heritage Committee urges States Parties in conflict situations to safeguard damaged properties through minimal first aid interventions to prevent theft, further collapse and natural degradation, and to refrain from undertaking conservation and restoration work until the situation allows, for the development of comprehensive conservation strategies and actions that respond to international standards in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies (based on Case law further to Decisions concerning the State of Conservation).
Theme: | 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security |
See for examples Decisions: | 39 COM 7A.36 40 COM 7A.22 41 COM 7A.50 41 COM 7A.46 |
1.1.2 - World Heritage Committee
1.1.3 - Funding
1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with ...
1.3.1 - General
1.3.2 - International Assistance
1.3.3 - Regional cooperation
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
2.2.5.1 - General
2.2.5.2 - Legislative, regulatory and contractual ...
2.2.5.3 - Management systems
2.2.5.4 - Sustainable use
2.2.5.5 - Impact assessment
2.2.6.1 - Boundaries
2.2.6.2 - Buffer Zones
2.2.6.3 - Minor modifications to the boundaries
2.2.6.4 - Significant modifications to the boundaries
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
3.2.2 - Periodic Reporting
3.2.3 - Reactive Monitoring
3.2.4 - List of World Heritage in Danger
3.2.5 - Deletion of a World Heritage property from the ...
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
4.2 - Global capacity-building strategy
5.1 - Education and awareness-raising
5.2 - Interpretation
5.3 - World Heritage emblem
6.1 - Participation of local communities and other ...
6.2 - Human rights and rights-based approach
6.3 - Gender equality
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.
The World Heritage Policy Compendium On-line tool was developed thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of Korea.