Decision: 44 COM 7A.12
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.24, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
- Commends the important efforts made by the State Party to raise funds and undertake activities for the conservation of the property and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), despite the difficult situation and working conditions on the ground, due to the effects of the conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, and urges it to continue its efforts in this regard to the extent possible;
- Requests the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed about the evolution of the situation at the property and of any new measures undertaken to ensure its protection and conservation, as well as any 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, and also requests that technical specifications and materials to be used in conservation interventions are discussed with ICOMOS before they are applied;
- Further requests the State Party to report on any progress achieved in the implementation of the Action Plan developed during the International Expert Meeting on the Safeguard of Libyan Cultural Heritage (Tunis, May 2016);
- Welcomes the progress made in the finalization of the Minor Boundary Modification proposal and requests furthermore the State Party to continue the process in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, and to submit it in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Encourages the State Party to pursue the development of a Management Plan for the property, and invites it to seek for the necessary technical and financial support and to allocate the necessary resources for its implementation;
- Acknowledges the invitation by 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;
- Also Welcomes the initiation of 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;
- Reiterates its call 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 2016 Tunis Meeting;
- Expresses its appreciation to the Netherlands Funds in Trust and other donors and institutions, for the support provided to the State Party towards the conservation and management of the property;
- Requests moreover 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;
- Decides to retain the Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.