1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/13A,

2. Recalls the Budapest Declaration, adopted during its 25th session (Budapest, 2002), and more particularly its Article 5;

3. Takes note of information provided by States Parties in their responses to the questionnaire submitted by the World Heritage Centre; Decisions report (Christchurch, 2007) WHC-07/31.COM/24, p. 193

4. Congratulates States Parties to the Convention for their commitment in the implementation of the four strategic objectives and warmly encourages them to pursue their efforts;

5. 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;

6. Requests the World Heritage Centre to use the evaluation of the Periodic Report in the assessment of the strategic objectives for the implementation of the Convention;

7. Decides to consider, at its 32nd session in 2008, the establishment of a working group to study the implementation of the strategic objectives.

1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/13B,

2. Welcomes the proposal by New Zealand to enhance the role of communities in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention;

3. Adds a “fifth C” for “Communities” to the existing Strategic Objectives which were adopted as the Budapest Declaration on World Heritage by the World Heritage Committee at its 26th session (Budapest, 2002) which should read as follows:
“To enhance the role of communities in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.”

4. Encourages all interested parties to promote and implement this fifth Strategic Objective.

5. Thanks New Zealand for this important contribution to the implementation of the Convention.