Decision 46 COM 7A.22

Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Libya) (C 184)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.35 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
3. Regrets that the State Party did not submit a report on the state of conservation of the property, as requested by the Committee at its extended 45th session, and expresses concern about the absence of relevant updated information;
4. Reiterates its request to the State Party to continue its efforts for the conservation of the property and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) to the extent possible and to seek the necessary funds as needed;
5. Requests the State Party to pursue consultations with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies with regard to any conservation projects planned at the property, including in terms of materials and techniques to be used before their application;
6. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to continue to keep the Committee informed on 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 impact the OUV of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Continues to encourage the State Party to pursue the development of a Management Plan for the property, and invites it to seek the necessary technical and financial support and allocate the resources required for its implementation;
8. Further reiterates its request to the State Party to pursue close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for the elaboration of a Minor Boundary Modification proposal, and to submit it in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
9. Urges the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, a draft retrospective Statement of OUV, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;
10. Urges the State Party to initiate 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;
11. Recalling the invitation by the State Party for the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, encourages that the mission takes place as soon as conditions permit;
12. Continues to call for an increased mobilization by the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
13. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, 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 47th session;
14. Decides to retain Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.