The World Heritage Committee,
Taking into consideration Rule 8 (Observers) of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee,
Authorizes the participation in the 38th session as observers of those representatives of the international governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), permanent observer missions to UNESCO and non profit-making institutions having activities in the fields covered by the Convention, who have requested observer participation at the session and as listed in Section A of document ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/3A.Rev,
Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned document.
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/3B.Rev,
Adopts the timetable included in the above-mentioned document.
38 COM 4
Report of the Rapporteur of the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee (Phnom Penh, 2013)
The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the report of the Rapporteur of the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee (Phnom Penh, 2013).
38 COM 5A
Report of the World Heritage Centre on its Activities and the Implementation of the World Heritage Committee’s Decisions
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/5A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 5A adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Takes note with appreciation of the activities undertaken by the World Heritage Centre over the past year in pursuit of the expected results and the five strategic objectives as presented in Document WHC-14/38.COM/5A;
Takes notes with concern of the restructuring of the World Heritage Centre and urges the Director-General of UNESCO to ensure adequate expertise on natural and cultural heritage in the World Heritage Centre;
Also takes ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/5B,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 5B adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Advisory Bodies (ICCROM, ICOMOS and IUCN) on their activities;
Welcomes the harmonization of the reports by the Advisory Bodies and the comments on the progress made and gaps identified for the implementation of the Convention.
38 COM 5C
Follow-Up to the Director-General’s Meeting on “The World Heritage Convention: Thinking Ahead” (UNESCO HQ, 2-3 October 2012)
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/5C,
Recalling Decisions 33 COM 5A, 34 COM 5C, 35 COM 5D, 36 COM 12B and 37 COM 5C adopted at its 33rd (Seville, 2009), 34th (Brasilia, 2010), 35th (UNESCO, 2011) 36th (Saint-Petersburg, 2012) and 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) sessions respectively,
Takes note of the positive impact of the actions already undertaken, as well as of plans for further actions, and invites all stakeholders to pursue efforts to enhance and facilitate dialogue, communication and transparency in all processes of the Convention and in the ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/5D,
Recalling Decisions 35 COM 5E and 36 COM 5C, adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011) and 36th (Saint-Petersburg, 2012) sessions respectively,
Welcomes the progress made towards the development of a draft policy for integrating a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention, despite the lack of resources;
Acknowledges the eight key dimensions of sustainable development, namely Inclusive Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, Peace and Security, ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/5E,
Recalling Decisions 32 COM 10, 32 COM 10A, 34 COM 5F.1, 36 COM 5D and 36 COM 5E, adopted at its 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), 34th (Brasilia, 2010) and 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) sessions respectively,
Welcomes the progress report on the implementation of the World Heritage Thematic Programmes and Initiative and thanks all States Parties, donors and other organizations for having contributed to achieving their objectives;
Acknowledges the results attained by the Forest Programme and expresses its regrets that ...
38 COM 5F.1
Follow-up to the Audit of the Working Methods of Cultural Conventions and to the Evaluation of UNESCO’s Standard-Setting work of the Culture Sector
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/5F and its Annexes,
Welcomes the findings of the audit and the recommendations offered therein;
Takes note that the General Assembly of States Parties decided to establish a sub-account under the World Heritage Fund with regard to recommendation 1(a), to be funded from Voluntary Contributions and to be used exclusively for enhancing the human capacities of the Secretariat, and with regard to recommendation 1(e) to apply the cost recovery policy for the staff time spent in managing the World Heritage Fund within the ...
38 COM 5F.2
Follow-up to the Audit of the Working Methods of Cultural Conventions and to the Evaluation of UNESCO’s Standard-Setting work of the Culture Sector
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/5F as well as the “Evaluation of UNESCO’s Standard-setting work of the Culture Sector: Part III – 1972 Convention,
Noting that the present evaluation constitues the first such evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the World Heritage Convention of 1972,
Welcomes the findings of the evaluation and the recommendations offered therein;
Takes note that the current periodic mechanism already includes a number of indicators and considers that Recommendation 1, with regard both to the World Heritage Convention of ...
38 COM 6
Follow-up to the World Heritage Capacity Building strategy and Progress report on the World Heritage-related Category 2 Centres
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/6,
Recalling Decisions 36 COM 6, 36 COM 9B, 37 COM 5E and 37 COM 6, adopted at its 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) and 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) sessions respectively,
Commends the progress made in the implementation of the World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy (WHCBS), its accompanying World Heritage Capacity Building Programme, and the capacity building activities carried out in 2013 and 2014;
Notes with appreciation the continued support of the Government of Switzerland in the implementation of the World ...
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7,2. Recalling Decisions 35 COM 12B, 35 COM 12E and 37 COM 7C adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011) and 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) sessions respectively,
Issues emerging from the 2014 state of conservation reports
3. Noting with regret that issues related to Management Plan / System remain a serious cause for concern, requests all States Parties to ensure that all World Heritage properties are managed in such a manner that their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) is not put at risk and, whenever necessary, develop/update ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.23 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the efforts made by the State Party in the implementation of measures at the property and urges it to continue with the implementation of the corrective measures, with particular attention to the following:
Undertake detailed condition surveys to identify priority interventions to ensure stabilization of archaeological remains,
Define a comprehensive strategy to address drainage of groundwater and impacts from other ...
Sites: Abu Mena
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.24 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Takes note of the efforts made by the State Party in addressing the conservation of the property;
Regrets that the protective shelter was built at the Royal Cemetery in spite of the request made to submit details for the intervention for review prior to its construction, notes the physical and visual impacts of the shelter on the attributes of the property and requests the State Party to work with the World Heritage Centre and the ...
Sites: Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 36 COM 7A.25, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Welcomes the efforts made by the State Party in the implementation of a restoration programme for the property;
Reiterates the need for the State Party to pursue its efforts and prioritise the implementation of the following, as requested by the Committee in its Decision 37 COM7A.25:
Develop baseline documentation, including missing architectural plans and topographic surveys, carry out a detailed conservation condition ...
Sites: Samarra Archaeological City
I
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling the relevant provisions on the protection of cultural heritage including the four Geneva Conventions (1949), the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 1954 and its related protocols, the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of 1972, the Delhi UN ESCO Recommendation of 1956 concerning excavations undertaken in occupied territories, the inscription of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls at the request of ...
38 COM 7A.5
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine) (C 1433)
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.27, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Regrets that the State Party had not developed the overarching conservation strategy for the Church of the Nativity prior to the commencement of the restoration works and requests the State Party to provide such strategy based on the analysis of the church fabric and its historic, archaeological and architectural characteristics, prior to any future conservation works;
Notes the progress made towards the restoration of the roof of ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decisions 35 COM 7B.58, 36 COM 7B.58, 37 COM 7B.57 and 37 COM 8C.1, adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) and 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) sessions respectively,
Deplores the conflict situation prevailing in the country, the loss of human life and the degradation of humanitarian conditions;
Takes note of the report provided by the State Party regarding the state of conservation of the six Syrian World Heritage properties and the 12 sites inscribed on the Tentative List and ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.28, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Acknowledges with great concern, the extreme conditions that have prevailed in Zabid over the past three years and the way this has hindered external donors from fulfilling their pledges, and notes the major impact that this had had on the availability of resources and on progress with regeneration and conservation projects;
Also notes with concern the lack of support for conservation initiatives from some inhabitants of ...
Sites: Historic Town of Zabid
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.29, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013);
Acknowledges the efforts made by the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007) and urges it to sustain these efforts to work on all corrective measures identified;
Reiterates its request to the State Party to adopt the detailed topographic map of the property produced in 2012, and finalise the buffer zone, and to submit a proposal for a minor boundary modification, ...
38 COM 7A.15
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan) (C 208 rev)
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.30, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the progress made by the State Party on the implementation of the corrective measures, notably the conservation efforts at the Buddha niches and other component parts of the property, including Shahr-i-Gholghola and others, and efforts to mitigate the development pressure;
Takes note of the continued concern expressed by the State Party on the critical condition of the large Western Buddha niche; also takes note of the ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.32, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Welcomes the progress in the implementation of the conservation programme plan for Gelati Monastery;
Notes that the State Party submitted on 1 February 2014 a request for a Major Boundary Modification for the property, further to the request of the Committee;
Decides to retain the Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Georgia) on the List of World Heritage in ...
Sites: Gelati Monastery
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decisions 34 COM 7A.27, 35 COM 7A.30, 36 COM 7A.31 and 37 COM 7A.33 adopted at its 34th (Brasilia, 2010), 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 36th (Saint-Petersburg, 2012) and 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) sessions respectively,
Acknowledges the detailed information provided by the State Party on the progress made to implement the corrective measures and urges the State Party to finalise its work on all the corrective measures adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010) by the end of 2014, including to submit to the World ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Decides to adjourn the debate on this agenda item until its next ordinary session.
Sites: Medieval Monuments in Kosovo
38 COM 7A.19
Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) (C 1150)
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decisions 36 COM 7B.93 and 37 COM 7A.35, adopted at its 36th (Saint-Petersburg, 2012) and 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) sessions respectively,
Also recalling the results of the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission of November 2011,
Reiterates its serious concern over the potential threat of the Liverpool Waters development scheme on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and notes that the implementation of the development, as currently planned, would irreversibly ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.36 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Appreciates the efforts made by the State Party to fund and organize the advisory mission conducted in 2014 and encourages it to implement the recommendations contained in the mission report;
Welcomes the development and adoption of the Emergency Plan for the property and urges the State Party to secure the necessary resources to commence the immediate implementation of the identified priority conservation and stabilisation ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A;
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.37 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the State Party for efforts made in the implementation of the corrective measures for the property and encourages it to sustain these efforts to ensure that the Desired state of conservation for the property is met within the established timeframe;
Urges the State Party to conclude the planning process for the formulation of the management plan and the comprehensive conservation plan and requests it to provide an electronic ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.38 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the State Party for its long-term commitment and efforts to address the deterioration of the earthen architecture remains of the property and to put in place a sustainable and operational management system to continue to handle decay factors and threats;
Considers that the State Party has made considerable progress in meeting the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.39 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Welcomes the efforts made by the State Party in addressing the state of conservation of the property and progress on implementation of recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee and the monitoring missions to the property;
Takes note of the submission of the revised cartography for the component parts of the property and proposed buffer zone and requests that it be finalized within the framework of the retrospective ...
Sites: Coro and its Port
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.19, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013,)
Congratulates the State Party for having accomplished significant progress enabling the commencement of the reconstruction of the mausoleums on 14 March 2014;
Notes with satisfaction the preparation of a restoration and reconstruction strategy for damaged cultural heritage in northern Mali detailing the reconstruction method for the destroyed mausoleums, and appreciates the place accorded to the role of the communities, the ...
Sites: Timbuktu
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.20, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the State Party for having organized the joint UNESCO/Mali mission of 11 February 2014, despite difficult security conditions;
Notes with satisfaction the preparation of a rehabilitation and reconstruction strategy for the damaged cultural heritage of North Mali, that includes the rehabilitation of the Tomb of Askia;
Requests the State Party to undertake the necessary actions to enable the urgent detailed ...
Sites: Tomb of Askia
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.21 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Welcomes the continuing commitment of the State Party to pursue the reconstruction of the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga and the restoration of the wider property;
Expresses concern that detailed information on the planned work, and timelines for the reconstruction of the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga have still not been provided, even though work on the supportive framework for the building has been undertaken;
Requests the State Party to ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.22, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the efforts made by the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures;
Considers that the State Party has made considerable progress in meeting the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
Notes however that several actions are currently in planning stages, rendering the property vulnerable, and urges the State Party to implement the ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.14, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the State Party for the development of an Emergency Action Plan, which could facilitate the implementation of the corrective measures;
Expresses its serious concern about the pressure to downgrade the protection status of Kerinci Seblat National Park to a Protected Forest, which would not only expose the property to the risk of road construction and the associated potential impacts of poaching and encroachment, but would ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.14, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Notes with appreciation that some progress has been achieved in the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee and the 2012 IUCN reactive monitoring mission;
Welcomes the assessment of threats to the property undertaken with support from the Government of Australia, and considers that the findings and recommendations of this assessment could provide a basis for the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World ...
Sites: East Rennell
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.15, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Reiterates the request that the State Party submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, including progress achieved in implementing the corrective measures and in meeting the indicators developed for the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document Belize,
Recalling Decision 37COM 7A.16 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the State Party for the progress achieved in the implementation of certain corrective measures, particularly those regarding expansion of no-take zones and eradication and control of invasive species; and for its efforts undertaken to control unauthorized development activities and eliminate their impacts on the property;
Urges the State Party to establish, as a matter of priority, a legislative instrument that will guarantee ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.17, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Welcomes the progress reported by the State Party in the implementation of the updated corrective measures and towards achieving the indicators established for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
Requests the State Party to make a clear commitment to the long-term securing of adequate funding, management and staffing levels, in order to ensure that ...
Sites: Los Katíos National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.18, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Welcomes the progress achieved by the State Party with the development of a draft proposal for the Desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to finalize the proposal for the DSOCR for examination by the Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
Also welcomes the State Party’s ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.1, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Regrets the degradation of the security situation in the Central African Republic marked by an outbreak of violence and internal conflicts;
Reiterates its utmost concern regarding the likely disappearance of most of the flagship species of large mammals in the property, due to poaching and the impact of transhumant cattle, and expresses its deep concern as regards the further deterioration of the situation since its last ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.2, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Commends the State Party for the efforts undertaken in the implementation of the corrective measures and the actions carried out with the local populations in establishing the Village Conservation and Development Associations (VCDA) and their involvement in surveillance patrols;
Notes with concern the delay in carrying out the wildlife inventory to enable the identification of value indicators for the Desired state of conservation ...
Sites: Comoé National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.3, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Welcomes the progress reported by the Ivorian and Guinean State Parties in the implementation of the corrective measures, notably the efforts to restore the integrity of the property and strengthen its management capacity;
Notes with concern that the Guinean State Party does not appear to have established a strategy to prolong the accomplishments of the UNDP/GEF (Global Environmental Facility) Programme for conservation of the ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.4 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
Notes with appreciation the efforts deployed by the park staff to continue to ensure the conservation of the property despite life threatening conditions, and expresses its most sincere condolences to the families of the guards killed in operations for the protection of the property;
Reiterates its deep concern about the fact that the State Party has not revised the authorizations for petroleum exploration in the Park, as ...
Sites: Virunga National Park