Decision 46 COM 7A.36

Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen) (C 192)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.50 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
3. Expresses its continuing concern that the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property continues to be vulnerable because of the deteriorating condition of historic buildings, effects of extreme weather conditions, damage from conflict, and continuing limited support and resources for both heritage management and physical conservation;
4. Commends the efforts undertaken by the State Party, international agencies and local actors in the repair of historic buildings, capacity building, and awareness raising, including through the second phase of the EU-funded project ‘Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage in Yemen’, but notes with concern that the implementation of the Conservation Plan has been hindered, resulting in some building violations, and requests the State Party to continue to further support and extend protection, conservation, capacity building and awareness activities to all stakeholders, and to engage with the local community and landowners to ensure adequate protection and prevent encroachment;
5. Recalls the obligation to submit information on major projects (including conservation programmes) to the World Heritage Centre, in compliance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
6. Reiterates its previous requests to the State Party to:
   1. Submit the report ‘Conservation Status of Shibam Hadramout 2018-2019, Strategy for the Management of the Historic City of Shibam’, as well as full details regarding the works undertaken at the Governmental Complex buildings, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines,
   2. Elaborate proposals for a boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification in close coordination with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies, to be submitted in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Reiterates the need for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to advise on repair and conservation works, and to contribute to the processes required to enable the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, including the implementation of corrective measures, as soon as the situation allows;
8. Continues to urge all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any further action that would cause damage to the cultural heritage of Yemen and the OUV of the property, and to fulfil their obligations under international law, in particular the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and appeals to all States Parties to cooperate in the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347;
9. Also reiterates its previous calls to the international community to provide technical and financial support, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, for the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage, including funding for capacity building and first-aid restoration and protection measures;
10. 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;
11. Decides to retain Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.