Decision 45 COM 5D

The World Heritage Convention and Sustainable Development

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/5D,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 5D adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021), as well as Resolution 20 GA 13 adopted by the General Assembly at its 20th session (UNESCO, 2015),
3. Also recalling Decision 35 COM 12E that the World Heritage Committee specifically encourages the effective and equitable involvement and participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in decision-making, monitoring and evaluation of World Heritage properties and the respect of indigenous peoples’ rights in nominating, managing and reporting on World Heritage properties in their own territories;
4. Recalls that the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001) designates that the defence of cultural diversity implies a commitment to human rights that is also included in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and also recalls the UNESCO Policy on Engaging with Indigenous Peoples that underlines UNESCO’s commitment to promote the human rights-based approach in the implementation of its normative instruments including the 1972 Convention;
5. Welcomes the progress made so far in the development of tools to support the implementation of the “Policy Document for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention” (WH-SDP) into activities of the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, including through the World Heritage Leadership Programme at national and local levels and encourages States Parties to support their development and implementation in and around World Heritage properties, also welcomes the synergies evident in the consolidated report of the Third Member State Consultation on the implementation of the 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (2011 Recommendation), with the WH-SDP in view of advancing sustainable urban development and climate resilience in and around World Heritage properties in cities and settlements;
6. Acknowledges the importance of practical strategies and best practices to support the operationalization of the WH-SDP as well as capacity building for it, and invites States Parties to support the Secretariat’s and the Advisory Bodies’ efforts to gather, analyze, and share information on good practices and innovative solutions integrating heritage conservation with sustainable development;
7. Also takes note of the progress made towards the collection of quality data related to cultural and natural heritage in line with the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration, including with the implementation of the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators to support evidence-based policies and actions in line with the 1972 World Heritage Convention;
8. Notes with appreciation the collaboration of UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies with the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on World Heritage (IIPFWH), welcomes their intent to co-organise with UNESCO, working with the Advisory Bodies and other partners, in early 2024, an international expert workshop on the recognition and respect for the heritage values of indigenous peoples within the framework of the World Heritage Convention and invites States Parties to contribute financially towards this event and requests the Secretariat to include a report on it at its 46th session;
9. Requests the States Parties to implement the WH-SDP systematically in and around World Heritage properties, ensuring that sustainable development objectives are mainstreamed into their management plans and conservation actions for the World Heritage properties, and to integrate heritage conservation into national and local plans, policies, processes to advance sustainable development;
10. Also requests the World Heritage Centre to continue to pursue, within the available resources, the development of activities including policies, tools, guidance, and communication towards operationalising the WH-SDP supporting States Parties in its implementation while protecting the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties;
11. Calls on States Parties and other potential partners to contribute financially or through in-kind support to activities towards mainstreaming and operationalising the WH-SDP including the development of tools and guidance by the World Heritage Centre with the Advisory Bodies;
12. Requests furthermore the World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies, to present a progress report in this regard at its 47th session.