Decision 44 COM 7A.13

Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Libya) (C 184)

Decision: 44 COM 7A.13

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.25, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Notes with appreciation the efforts undertaken by the State Party to address conservation threats at the property and in fundraising activities that have led to projects aimed at the preservation of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
4. Requests the State Party to continue its efforts in this regard to the extent possible and to discuss with ICOMOS the restoration techniques and materials planned to be used at the Roman Theatre and the other archaeological vestiges before their application;
5. Also requests the State Party to keep the Committee informed on the evolution of the situation at the property and to inform it, through the World Heritage Centre, on any on-going and future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the OUV of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
6. Further requests the State Party to report on any progress achieved in the implementation of the Action Plan developed during the International Meeting on the Safeguarding of Libyan Cultural Heritage (Tunis, May 2016);
7. Requests furthermore the State Party to initiate the process to develop a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, as well as the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies;
8. Encourages the State Party to pursue the development of a Management Plan for the property, and invites it to seek the necessary technical and financial support and allocate the necessary resources for its implementation;
9. Continues to call for an increased mobilization by the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, to implement the short- and medium-term measures identified during the 2016 Tunis Meeting;
10. Also welcomes the elaboration of a Minor Boundary Modification proposal, and requests moreover the State Party to continue the close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, and to submit it in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines
11. Acknowledges the invitation by the State Party for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property to evaluate its State of Conservation, to take place as soon as the security conditions permit;
12. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session;
13. Decides to retain the Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.