The World Heritage Committee,
1. Thanking the Drafting Group and all other experts, representatives of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre for work accomplished to date on the revision of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention;
2. Taking note of the Report of the March 2002 Drafting Group on the Revision of the Operational Guidelines presented as document WHC-03/6 EXT.COM/INF.5A;
3. Considering that the 3rd Draft Revised Operational Guidelines presented in document WHC-03/6 EXT.COM/INF.5B represents a substantial effort, but that further work is required to reflect the recent decisions of the Committee (in particular Decisions 6 EXT.COM 3 and 6 EXT.COM 4 and 6 EXT.COM 7) and to make them more userfriendly;
4. Recalling the decision of the 25th session of the Committee to allocate US $ 50,000 from the World Heritage Fund in 2003 for the revision of the Operational Guidelines and the subsequent decision 26 COM 24.2 (paragraph 3) to reduce this amount to US $ 22,000;
5. Taking into account decision 6 EXT COM 5.2 relating to the preparation of a volume of the Basic Texts of the Convention;
6. Requests the World Heritage Centre, working in collaboration with the Advisory Bodies, to carry out the tasks itemized below in the Technical Annex in order to present revised user-friendly Operational Guidelines to the World Heritage Committee for adoption at its 27th session (Suzhou, China 29 June-5 July 2003);
7. Decides to include an item on the adoption of the revised Operational Guidelines on the agenda of the 27th session of the Committee (Suzhou, China 29 June-5 July 2003).
TECHNICAL ANNEX FOR THE REVISION OF THE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
(with reference to the third draft Revised Operational Guidelines, document WHC-03/6 EXT.COM/INF.5B)
THROUGHOUT THE TEXT
1.1 Revise the text to take into account the discussions and many suggestions for drafting changes made during the plenary at the 6th extraordinary session of the World Heritage Committee (17-22 March 2003) as reflected in the record of the meeting (WHC-03/6 EXT.COM/INF.8).
1.2 Revise the text on the basis of the following decisions taken by the 6th extraordinary session of the Committee:
6 EXT.COM 3 (Revision of the Rules of Procedure of the World Heritage Committee);
6 EXT.COM 4 (Policy/Legal issues); and
6 EXT.COM 7 (Nominations to be examined by the World Heritage Committee in 2004).
1.3 Prepare a clear document, finding a balance between the inclusion of obligatory texts and the removal of text that is not relevant (see Decision 6 EXT.COM 5.2.).
1.4 Check that the provisions of the revised Guidelines are capable of implementation, consistent with the Convention, do not include information that is not relevant, avoid reproducing the Convention and other existing texts and clarify all references to the Bureau.
1.5 Improve the presentation of the revised Guidelines, ensure consistency of language and check concordance between the English and French texts, finalise references and cross-references, paragraph numbering and ensure that there are no contradictions.
1.6 Define and be consistent in the use of the terms:
- "conservation" and "protection";
- "outstanding universal value", "criteria", "values", "attributes", "qualities" and "characteristics;
- "management approach", "management system", "management plan" and "management and/or planning control"; and
- "property" and "site".
1.7 Integrate references to the Budapest Declaration (2002) and, replace when appropriate, references to the Strategic Orientations (1992).
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
- Maintain paragraphs 122-125 on the World Heritage Fund of the July 2002 Operational Guidelines.
SECTION II: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
3.1 Amend section II.B "Tentative Lists" to
- a) provide greater clarity as to the purpose of Tentative Lists, the purpose and process for harmonizing Tentative Lists at a regional level and,
- b) make a clear distinction between the "comparative analysis" to be prepared by States Parties and included in their nominations and the "comparative studies" prepared by the Advisory Bodies and other experts that are used as comparative context for the evaluation of properties nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
3.2. In section II.C “Criteria for the inclusion of properties on the World Heritage List”:
a) combine the six cultural and four natural criteria previously included in paragraphs 24 (a) and 44 (a) respectively, into a single list of criteria (i) to (x) reordering them so that the former natural criterion (iii) becomes criterion (vii);
- b) revise criterion(v):
"(v) is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change";
- c) revise criterion (vi):
"(vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance" The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria.
3.3 Amend paragraph II.C.3 to read:
"Properties nominated for inclusion on the World Heritage List must satisfy the conditions of authenticity and/or integrity.
3.4 Maintain text from paragraph 25 of the July 2002 Operational Guidelines stating that "Nominations of immovable property which are likely to become movable will not be considered".
3.5 Maintain elements of paragraphs 44(b)(v) and 44(b)(vi) of the July 2002 Operational Guidelines (relating to operational plans, boundaries that may coincide with existing or proposed protected areas and multiple management zones) as appropriate.
3.6 Amend paragraph II.C.11 to read:
“ Examining the conditions of integrity, therefore requires assessing the extent to which the property :
- includes all elements necessary to express its outstanding universal value;
- is of adequate size to ensure the complete representation of the features and processes which convey the property’s significance;
- suffers from adverse effects of development and/or neglect."
3.7 Revise paragraph II.C.13 as follows:
"II.C.13 For all properties nominated under criteria (vii) to (x), bio-physical processes and landform features should be relatively intact. However, it is recognized that no area is totally pristine and that all natural areas are in a dynamic state, and to some extent involve contact with people. Human activities, including those of traditional societies and local communities, often occur in natural areas. These activities may be consistent with the outstanding universal value of the area where they are ecologically sustainable.”
3.8 Consider the proposal made by the Delegation of Belgium to reorder the Nomination Format referred to in paragraph II.D.1 in the following way:
- Identification of property
- Description of property
- Justification of outstanding universal value, and identification of its indicators
- Justification of criteria of authenticity and/or integrity, and identification of its indicators
- Constraints and factors that are affecting or could affect the property, and identification of its indicators
- Protection and management systems
- Documentation
- Contact Information
- State Party's Signature
3.9 Introduce in paragraph II.D.5 the following timetable for the receipt of nominations:
30 September Voluntary deadline for receipt of draft nominations from States Parties by the World Heritage Centre
15 November World Heritage Centre to respond to the nominating State Party concerning the completeness of the nomination, and, if incomplete, to indicate the missing information required to make the nomination complete.
1 February Date by which nominations must be complete and received by the World Heritage Centre to be transmitted to ICOMOS and /or IUCN for evaluation.
3.10 Clarify the procedures, timeframe and requirements for the content, submission and processing of nominations on an emergency basis.
3.11 Clarify the procedures, timeframe and requirements for the content, submission and processing of renominations of existing properties using new criteria, as well as for referred, deferred and withdrawn nominations.
3.12 Ensure that a clear indication of what is a "complete" nomination is provided.
3.13 With reference to decision 6 EXT.COM 3, include a mechanism by which the Advisory Bodies, through the World Heritage Centre, can obtain additional information from a State Party between two Committee sessions, during the process of evaluation of a nomination of property for inscription on the World Heritage List.
SECTION III: PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES
4.1 Amend paragraph III.A.3 to read:
"World Heritage properties may support a variety of ongoing and proposed uses that are ecologically and culturally sustainable. The State Party and partners must ensure that such sustainable use does not adversely impact the outstanding universal value, authenticity and integrity of the property."
4.2 Move the text on Periodic Reporting to a new section of the Operational Guidelines to clearly differentiate day-to-day management and monitoring by the State Party and reactive monitoring from the six-year cycle of Periodic Reporting for which States Parties are requested to prepare reports on their overall implementation of the Convention as well as on their World Heritage properties.
SECTION IV: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
5.1 Revise the text with reference to decision 26 COM 25.3 and the need to ensure interaction and complementarity of Regional Programmes as follow-up to the Periodic Reports whilst maintaining for the time being the existing types of International Assistance with the addition of "Research" to "Training Assistance."
5.2 Revise paragraph IV.B.4 (d) to read:
"Legislative, administrative and, wherever possible, financial commitment of the recipient State Party to the activity;"
SECTION V: MOBILISATION OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT IN FAVOUR OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION
- Move the text on "Information" (paragraphs V.V.1 to V.B.6) to a separate sub-section. Integrate in this new sub-section, all necessary provisions concerning information and documentation (including II.H on "Archiving and documentation of nominations") and make cross-references as appropriate.
ANNEX 1: WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION
- Delete this Annex. Organize joint distribution of the Convention and the Operational Guidelines (see also decision 6 EXT.COM/5.2)
ANNEX 2: MODEL INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION/ACCEPTANCE AND ACCESSION
- Maintain this Annex until all countries have joined the World Heritage Convention.
ANNEX 3: TENTATIVE LIST SUBMISSION FORMAT
- No changes foreseen.
ANNEX 4: GUIDELINES ON THE INCLUSION OF SPECIFIC TYPES OF SITES IN THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
10.1 No changes foreseen pending the preparation of updated guidelines in the future.
10.2 Explain the difference between a mixed cultural and natural heritage property and a cultural landscape.
ANNEX 5: AUTHENTICITY IN RELATION TO THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION
- Include references to expert meetings on authenticity held before and after the Nara meeting in 1994.
ANNEX 6: GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF NOMINATIONS OF PROPERTIES FOR INCLUSION ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
12.1 Written comments on this Annex can be provided to the World Heritage Centre by States Parties by 7 April 2003.
12.2 Move all guidelines concerning the nomination of properties for inclusion in the World Heritage List to Section II "Establishment of the World Heritage List" and only keep the Nomination Format in Annex 6.
12.3 Change the title of the Annex to "Format for nominations for inclusion in the World Heritage List".
12.4 Enhance the presentation of this Annex.
12.5 Consider reordering the Nomination Format as indicated by the Delegation of Belgium (see paragraph 3.8 above)
12.6 Ensure that the references to management requirements and monitoring are consistent with the text in paragraphs II.C. 23 and 24.
ANNEX 7: EVALUATION PROCEDURES OF ICOMOS AND IUCN
- No changes foreseen.
ANNEX 8: PROCESS OF PERIODIC REPORTING AND FORMAT AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
14.1 Move guidelines concerning Periodic Reporting to the main text of the Guidelines and keep only the Format in Annex 8.
14.2 Change the title of the Annex to "Format for the Periodic Reporting on the application of the World Heritage Convention"
ANNEX 9: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
15.1 Increase the budget ceiling of the requests for the approval of the Chairperson to that which formerly was approved by the Bureau :
- up to US$ 75,000 for Emergency Assistance,
- up to US$30,000 for Preparatory Assistance,
- up to US$30,000 for Training and research assistance, and
- up to US$30,000 for Technical co-operation.
15.2 Clarify that Emergency Assistance is made available to World Heritage properties. It may be made available, if necessary, to more than one World Heritage property in a single State Party.
15.3 For "Training and Research Assistance" payment of dues to the World Heritage Fund for the previous year is obligatory.
15.4 Indicate which fields in the International Assistance form are compulsory for completion.
15.5 Include the criteria used by the Advisory Bodies to evaluate International Assistance requests.
ANNEX 10: GUIDELINES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE USE OF THE WORLD HERITAGE EMBLEM
- Remove footnote and all references to the proposed user's manual "The World Heritage Visual Identity"
BIBLIOGRAPHY/SELECT READING LIST
- To be added.
WWW/INTERNET RESOURCES
- Websites for UNESCO, World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies to be included in the Bibliography.
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
- To be included at the beginning of the Guidelines.
GLOSSARY
- To be added.
INDEX
- To be added.