Decision 43 COM 7A.25

Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Libya) (C 184)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.24, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Notes with appreciation the activities undertaken by the State Party to address the conservation threats at the property despite the numerous difficulties faced, and urges it to continue its efforts in this regard to the extent possible;
4. Expresses concern over the damage incurred at the property due to the armed conflict, in particular to the Theatre, and requests the State Party to provide the results of the assessment and documentation of the damage;
5. Recognizing the technical and financial difficulties that impede appropriate protection and conservation measures, also requests the State Party to provide detailed information on the measures undertaken to address urban encroachment and the degradation of original building material, as well as any new measures undertaken to ensure the protection and conservation of the property;
6. Further requests the State Party to keep the Committee regularly informed of the evolution of the situation at the property and to inform it, through the World Heritage Centre, on any ongoing and future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Encourages the State Party to continue the finalization of the Minor Boundary Modification in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
8. Acknowledges the invitation from the State Party for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, to take place as soon as the security conditions permit;
9. Calls for an increased mobilization of the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, to implement the short-, medium- and long-term measures identified during the International Meeting on the Safeguard of Libyan Cultural Heritage (Tunis, May 2016);
10. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, 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 44th session in 2020;
11. Decides to retain the Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.