3. Elects Mr. Dawson MUNJERI, Zimbabwe, as Chairperson of the 17th General Assembly,
4. Elects Ms. Dagnija BALTIŅA, Latvia, as Rapporteur of the 17th General Assembly,
5. Elects Malaysia and Argentina as Vice-Chairpersons of the 17th General Assembly.

2. Having examined Document WHC-09/17.GA/2A,
3. Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document.

2. Having examined Document WHC-09/17.GA/2B.rev,
3. Adopts the timetable of the 17th session of the General Assembly.

5. Having examined Documents WHC-09/17.GA/3A and WHC-09/17.GA/INF.3A,
6. Recalling Resolutions 15 GA 9 and 16 GA 3A, adopted respectively at its 15th and 16th sessions, requesting to initiate a «process to discuss possible alternatives to the existing system of elections to the World Heritage Committee» and to establish an open-ended Working Group in order to make recommendations on this issue,
7. Noting that capacity building would enhance expertise of the States Parties and would encourage the latter to present their candidature to the Committee,
8. Recognizing that a greater role for State Party Observers in the work of the Committee would facilitate their potential candidature for a seat in the Committee in the future,
9. Thanking H.E. Ambassador Kondo and the open-ended Working Group for the reflection on the procedures of election of World Heritage Committee members for the work accomplished,
10. Decides to amend its Rules of Procedure as follows (amendments are underlined):
    

Rule 13 – Procedures for the presentation of candidatures to the World Heritage Committee[1]

13.1 – The Secretariat shall ask all States Parties, at least three months prior to the opening of the General Assembly, whether they intend to stand for election to the World Heritage Committee. If so, its candidature should be sent to the Secretariat at least six weeks prior to the opening of the General Assembly.

13.2 Members of the World Heritage Committee may stand again for election after a gap of 4 years after the expiry of their mandate;

Rule 14 - Election of members of the World Heritage Committee

14.1 a) The election of members of the World Heritage Committee shall be conducted by secret ballot whenever five or more delegations having the right to vote so request, or if the Chairperson so decides.

 b) In case one or more electoral group(s), as defined by the UNESCO General Conference at its most recent session[2], might have no State Party in the composition of the next Committee[3], one seat per such electoral group(s) shall be reserved.

c) Notwithstanding, at each election, one seat shall be reserved for States Parties with no property on the World Heritage List.

d) Ballot(s) for reserved seat(s) shall precede the ballot(s) for the remaining seats to be filled. Unsuccessful candidates in a ballot for any reserved seat shall be eligible to stand for election in subsequent ballot(s).

 Remain unchanged : 14.2; 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7.

14.8 In all ballots, the candidate(s) obtaining in the first round, an absolute majority (more than half of the valid votes cast by States Parties present and voting) shall be declared elected in the sequential order of the number of votes obtained from the highest to the lowest, up to the number of seat(s) to be filled. If there still remain seat(s) to be filled, there shall be a second round.

14.9 In the second round, the candidate(s) obtaining the greatest number of votes, up to the number of seat(s) to be filled, shall be declared elected.

14.10 If in the second round, two or more candidates obtain the same number of votes, and, as a result, the number of these candidates is greater than the remaining number of seats to be filled, there shall be an additional round of voting restricted to those candidates who obtained the same number of votes. If in this additional round of voting, two or more candidates obtain the same number of votes, the Chairperson shall decide by drawing lots among them in order to allocate the remaining seat(s).

14.11 After each round, the Chairperson shall announce the results.

The texts of present rules 14.9, 14.10 and 14.11 are deleted

[1] Resolution 13 GA 9 (paragraph 6) invites the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, to voluntarily reduce their term of office from six to four years.

[2] It being understood that “Group V” shall consist of two separate groups for the African and Arab States.

[3] "That is to say, that either there is no State Party in the composition of the Committee from a given electoral group at the beginning of the ordinary session of the General Conference, or that the term of office of all States Parties from a given electoral group expires at the end of the ordinary session of the General Conference.

3. Elects the United Arab Emirates (State Party with no property on the World Heritage List) as a member of the World Heritage Committee;
4. Elects the Russian Federation (Electoral Group which might have no State Party in the composition of the next Committee) as a member of the World Heritage Committee;
5. Elects the following eleven States Parties as members of the World Heritage Committee: Cambodia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Iraq, Mali, Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland and Thailand.

2. Having examined Document WHC-09/17.GA/4,
3. Takes note of the report of the Intergovernmental Committee for the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on its activities (2008-2009).

3. Having examined the accounts of the World Heritage Fund for the financial period ending 31 December 2007 approved by the Comptroller (Document WHC-09/17.GA/INF.5, Sections I and II) in conformity with the Financial Regulations of the World Heritage Fund that stipulate that the accounts of the Fund shall be submitted to the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention (Article 6, paragraph 6.4),
4. Approves the accounts of the World Heritage Fund for the financial period ending 31 December 2007 (Document WHC-09/17.GA/INF.5, Sections I and II);
5. Takes note of the accounts of the World Heritage Fund for 2009, established by the Comptroller (Document WHC-09/17.GA/INF.5, Section III).

1. Decides to set at 1% the percentage for the calculation of the amount of the contributions to be paid to the World Heritage Fund by States Parties for the financial period 2010-2011.

1. Takes note of the decisions of the Committee concerning the contributions of States Parties and of their status of implementation;
2. Also takes note of Document WHC-09/17.GA/INF.6 on the status of compulsory and voluntary contributions to the World Heritage Fund;
3. Requests the World Heritage Committee to submit all possible options for equitable additional voluntary contributions to the World Heritage Fund to the General Assembly at its 18th session in 2011, as requested in Decision 33 COM 16B;
4. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to report to the General Assembly at its 18th session in 2011 about the impact of currency fluctuation on the World Heritage Fund and further report on possible remedial measures to cope with this issue.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/17.GA/7,
2. Takes note with satisfaction of the progress achieved so far in implementing the main recommendations of the management audit of the World Heritage Centre;
3. Calls upon the World Heritage Centre to continue to implement the recommendations of the management audit;
4. While noting the positive efforts made in addressing the recommendations of the audit, calls upon the World Heritage Centre to continue to address the issues for further improvements in personnel requirements, taking into account geographical representation, and report back to the General Assembly at its 18th session in 2011;

2. Having examined Document WHC-09/17.GA/8,
3. Takes note of the information provided in the above-mentioned document;
4. Welcomes the preparation and dissemination of the publications planned within the Series of World Heritage Resource Manuals;
5. Encourages States Parties to contribute extra-budgetary funding to support the publication of titles within the Series.

1. Having examined Documents WHC-09/17.GA/9 and WHC-09/17.GA/INF.9
2. Noting that the World Heritage Convention is approaching universal ratification and that its 40th anniversary is to be celebrated in 2012 and, therefore, that it is appropriate to reflect on the successes of the Convention and also how it can best be implemented to meet the emerging challenges and opportunities it faces while also increasing its relevance and engagement with communities around the world,
3. Considering the results of the Workshop to reflect on the Future of the World Heritage Convention, which took place from 25 to 27 February 2009 at UNESCO Headquarters, and taking into account the subsequent discussions of the consultative group established by the World Heritage Committee during its 33rd Session, held in Seville in June 2009;
4. Welcomes the progress report on the implementation of the Global Strategy for a Credible, Representative and Balanced World Heritage List from 1994 to 2009 (Document WHC-09/17.GA/9 Part III) while observing that improved indicators and analysis would be necessary for future reports of progress achieved in the framework of the Global Strategy;
5. Notes that the draft vision presented to the General Assembly (Document WHC-09/17.GA/INF.9) should take into account suggestions made during the debate on this issue at the 17th session of the General Assembly so that it could be used as a basis for further discussion by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th and 35th sessions and by the General Assembly of States Parties at its 18th session in 2011;
6. Calls upon States Parties to cooperate in continuing the process of reflection on the future of the World Heritage Convention, addressing inter alia the following important topics:
   1. the relationship between the World Heritage Convention, conservation and sustainable development;
   2. the credibility of the public image of the Convention, awareness raising and community involvement in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention;
   3. capacity building for States Parties, particularly for developing countries and other stakeholders, to implement the World Heritage Convention;
   4. strategic management and the Global Strategy for a Credible, Representative and Balanced World Heritage List;
   5. the efficiency and transparency of decision-making of the statutory organs of the World Heritage Convention;
   6. working relationships with other relevant Conventions and UNESCO programmes;
7. Welcomes the development of a draft Action Plan, recognizing that further work is required to both prioritize actions, as well as develop an effective implementation of the Plan;
8. Requests that the views of all States Parties related to the identification of priorities in the Action Plan be solicited by the World Heritage Centre prior to the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2010;
9. Further requests that discussion take place during the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2010 involving all interested States Parties to the Convention to prioritize the actions in the Action Plan based on input from States Parties, to reorganize it on the basis of the strategic objectives (5 Cs) and to report back to the General Assembly of States Parties at its 18th session in 2011;
10. Invites States Parties to take the initiative in convening expert meetings on the above issues with a view to identifying key policy questions for discussion during the 34th and 35th sessions of the World Heritage Committee and submit them for consideration and adoption by the General Assembly at its 18th session in 2011;
11. Welcomes the offer of Australia and Bahrain to host an expert meeting in Bahrain on the decision-making procedures of the statutory organs of the World Heritage Convention to identify opportunities for increasing the efficiency and transparency of these procedures, and requests the World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with these two States Parties, to launch and facilitate consultations on the meeting's scope and agenda for discussion by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;
12. Also welcomes the offer of Brazil to host in 2010 an expert meeting on the relationship between the World Heritage Convention, conservation and sustainable development;
13. Further welcomes the offer by Australia and Japan to host such a meeting pursuant to paragraph 14 of the Decision 33 COM 14A.2 in Document WHC-09/17.GA/INF.9 including the issues of Tentative Lists and International Assistance for improving the process of nominations;
14. Calls upon the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and other partners to increase significantly their support to States Parties, particularly less developed countries, in the identification of cultural, natural and mixed properties for Tentative Lists as well as in the harmonization of their Tentative Lists taking into account existing relevant studies;
15. Requests the World Heritage Centre to convene in 2010, through extra-budgetary funding, a meeting of the existing unesco category 2 centres active on World Heritage issues together with representatives of relevant UNITWIN networks, UNESCO Chairs, other regional and national research centres at the regional and national levels and graduate programmes in order to facilitate their activities and to strengthen their regional relevance;
16. Also requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to help facilitate the above activities and to provide the General Assembly at its 18th session in 2011 with a summary of the work undertaken in relation to the reflection on the future of the Convention, including an independent evaluation by UNESCO’s external auditor on the implementation of the Global Strategy from its inception in 1994 to 2011 and the Partnership for Conservation Initiative (PACT), based on indicators and approaches to be developed during the 34th and 35th sessions of the World Heritage Committee.

1. Taking into consideration Rule 8 (Observers) of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee,

2. Authorizes the participation in the 33rd session as observers of those representatives of the international governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), permanent observer missions to UNESCO and non profit-making institutions having activities in the fields covered by the Convention, who have requested observer participation at the session and as listed in Section A of the document WHC-09/33.COM/2;

3. Further confirms the participation in the 33rd session as observers of all those invited by the Director-General of UNESCO in accordance with Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee and as listed in Section B of the document WHC-09/33.COM/2.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/3A.Rev.2,
2. Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document as amended.

1. Having examined Document WHC 09/33.COM/3B.Rev.2,
2. Adopts the timetable included in the above-mentioned Document as amended.

1. Having examined Documents WHC-09/33.COM/5A, WHC- 09/33.COM/INF.5A.1, WHC-09/33.COM/INF.5A.2, and WHC-09/33.COM/INF.5A.3,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 5 adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Takes note with appreciation of the activities undertaken by the World Heritage Centre over the past year in pursuit of the Committee's five Strategic Objectives;

4. Takes also note of the findings of the study undertaken by UNESCO's Internal Oversight Service on the mapping of the workload of the World Heritage Centre presented in Document WHC-09/33.COM/INF.5A.3;

5. Notes with satisfaction that the World Heritage Centre is working with the secretariats of intergovernmental committees of related conventions such as the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the Convention for the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage-2001 and recommends that such cooperation be encouraged as this would further strengthen the work of the Centre;

6. Requests the World Heritage Centre to prepare a document on the World Heritage Convention and its cooperation and exchange with other conventions and programmes in the field of cultural heritage for discussion at the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee (2010);

7. Also requests the World Heritage Centre, in future reports on activities undertaken, to further strengthen the information and analysis available to States Parties by:

a) Retaining the current format to report activities and including an update on progress with implementing the Committee's decisions,

b) Describing the criteria by which the World Heritage Centre makes decisions as to which activities under the Convention it undertakes,

c) And including, on a discretionary basis, analysis of strategic issues and new directions;

8. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to produce, on an experimental basis, an indexed audio verbatim recording of the proceedings of the 33rd Session in addition to the standard summary records (as produced since the 26th session of the World Heritage Committee);

9. Notes the outline provided by the World Heritage Centre of its roles and the roles of the Advisory Bodies and agrees that this topic be further discussed at the 34th session of the Committee in 2010 under a separate agenda item;

10. Requests furthermore the World Heritage Centre to outline the forward direction of the World Heritage thematic programmes and initiatives, to enable an understanding of how these themes connect with and integrate into general programmes, and how they might be resourced;

11. Notes that the Centre already proactively engages women in its Heritage Programmes in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean as part of its gender balance policy and the provision of equal opportunity to all, and recommends that gender balance and community involvement be prioritized in the Centre's programmes;

12. Adopts the World Heritage Thematic Programme on Prehistory presented in Annex 1 of document WHC-09/33.COM/5A;

13. Requests the World Heritage Centre to reconsider the term "prehistory", to better recognize the continuing cultures of indigenous communities, to ensure global representation in the identification and conservation of related properties, and to present a report on progress in developing an Action Plan on Prehistory and World Heritage at its 34th session in 2010;

14. Notes with concern the ongoing destruction of some of these fragile sites, including the recent destruction of the Rock Art sites of Tardrat Acacus in Libya, and requests the State Party to take immediate action and other measures as necessary to address the problem in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS mission;

15. Expresses its gratitude to the Governments of Bahrain, South Africa and Spain for the financial and technical support for the various international scientific encounters, and recognizesthe proposal of the Government of Spain in establishing a centre for the research of Prehistory;

16. Recalling the Decision of the World Heritage Committee 31 COM.21C to carry out a programme of sustainable development concerning the conservation of earthen architecture, thanks the Governments of Italy and France for their support of the programme on earthen architecture in Africa and the Arab States in particular, and requests the potential financial donors and the States Parties to support the implementation of activities and further requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a progress report at its 35th session in 2011;

17. Takes note of the progress report on the World Heritage Tourism Programme;

18. Thanks the Governments of Australia, China, France, India, Switzerland and United Kingdom, who have worked in close collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, the World Tourism Organization and other partners, for contributing to the Initiative of Sustainable Tourism;

19. Expresses its gratitude to the Governments of Australia and China for the organization of a workshop on sustainable tourism at the World Heritage site, Mogao Caves, China, in September-October 2009 and requests that the following elements be submitted to the Committee for examination at its 34th session in 2010:

a) A report on the workshop,

b) The subsequent recommendations of the workshop regarding the adoption of best practices policy guidance, and concerning the changes proposed for the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention,

c) A document concerning the progress of the World Heritage Programme on Tourism;

20. Finally requests the Director of the World Heritage Centre to identify supplementary sources of funding to put into place a sufficient number of staff and resources at the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in order to continue to efficiently contribute to the resolution of problems related to World Heritage conservation.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/5B,

2. Recalling Decision 29 COM 5B adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005),

3. Noting with satisfaction the progress achieved in the implementation of the World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and noting that in practice the World Heritage Centre will continue addressing specific issues under regional programmes,

4. Thanks Andorra, Australia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand for having provided extra-budgetary funding for World Heritage-related activities in SIDS, as well as other international partners, such as the Shell Foundation, for generating capacity building activities in SIDS;

5. Requests the World Heritage Centre to report at the next session of the Committee on capacity building activities relating to SIDS;

6. Also requests the World Heritage Centre to encourage exchange among SIDS;

7. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to organize, similar to the Pacific World Heritage meeting of 2008 organised by Australia and New Zealand with input from the World Heritage Centre, a regional meeting to review progress in the implementation of the 2004-2014 Action Plan for the Caribbean and to submit a report for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

8. Requests furthermore the Director of the World Heritage Centre to identify extra budgetary funding for World Heritage activities in SIDS, in particular to further develop the Caribbean Capacity-Building Programme and to introduce a similar regional capacity-building programme for SIDS in the Africa and Pacific regions and the execution of more thematic studies particularly of the cultural land and seascapes, routes (trade of enslaved people) and environmental features of the Caribbean, African and Pacific Regions.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/5C,

2. Recalling the provisions of the Operational Guidelines in paragraphs 41 to 44,

3. Notes with appreciation the information provided on the cooperation between the World Heritage Convention and other multilateral environmental agreements;

4. Also notes the need for States Parties to address the great imbalance between nature and culture in the World Heritage List and to such end, recommends that a sharing of information between the multilateral environmental agreements and diverse stakeholders active in the conservation of World Heritage properties be undertaken, and that capacity building be reinforced in the field of heritage;

5. Requests that the concept of sustainable development be emphasized and taken in due consideration in all relevant actions taken by the World Heritage Centre;

6. Also requests the World Heritage Centre to continue the cooperation with the secretariats of other multilateral environmental agreements through the Biodiversity Liaison Group and other mechanisms, including bilateral cooperation to enhance synergies and coherence;

7. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to identify other conventions and programmes in the field of cultural heritage and recommend a strategic approach for cooperation to be discussed at its 34th session in 2010;

8. Decides to inscribe this item on the provisional agenda for the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2010.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/6A,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 6A adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Takes note of the Progress Report on the implementation of the African World Heritage Fund;

4. Notes with appreciation the excellent work the Fund has done since its inception, including the support provided for nominations for inscription of African sites on the World Heritage List, capacity building and assistance in the development of management plans for World Heritage properties in Africa;

5. Expresses its appreciation to partners at all levels for their financial support and assistance to the African World Heritage Fund;

6. Calls upon the States Parties to the Convention, the African Union, the public and private institutions, the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to continue supporting and contributing to the African World Heritage Fund, including the consolidation of the Endowment Fund;

7. Also takes note of the request submitted by the Republic of South Africa to seek accreditation as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO for the Fund, as part of the global network supporting heritage management and conservation;

8. Encourages the Fund in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre to define a core of activities to be implemented in Africa in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies and prioritize activities according to their strategic and action plans;

9. Requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a progress report on the African World Heritage Fund's activities for examination at its 34th session in 2010.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/6B,

2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 11C adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Notes the progress made towards the establishment of sustainable funding arrangements for conservation of World Heritage properties in the Pacific;

4. Requests the World Heritage Centre to report on the outcomes of the feasibility study on the development and implementation of sustainable funding arrangements for heritage conservation in the Pacific to the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011.