The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/20/14EXT.COM/2,
Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document.
The World Heritage Committee,
Decides to suspend Rule 2.1 of its Rules of Procedure.
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/20/14.EXT.COM/4,
Recalling the extreme exceptional circumstances that prevailed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide,
Also recalling Decision COM/BUR.1.3 by which the Bureau of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, taking into account the prevailing sanitary situation worldwide, including travel restrictions, considered that the conditions for a session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020 were not met,
Decides to hold an extended 44th session in June/July 2021 in Fuzhou (China);
Also decides that ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/21/15EXT.COM/2,
Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document, and decides to add an item 4 concerning the dates and place of its 45th session.
15 EXT.COM 3
Dates and modalities for the holding of the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/21/15.EXT.COM/3,
Recalling the extreme exceptional circumstances that prevailed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide and that still prevail in 2021,
Also recalling Decision 14 EXT.COM 4 by which it decided to hold an extended 44th session in June/July 2021 in Fuzhou (China),
Decides that the extended 44th session will be held from 16 to 31 July 2021[1];
Also decides that the extended 44th session will be held according to Format B, as described in Document WHC/21/15.EXT.COM/3, section III.B (“online session”), and ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Decides to suspend Rule 4.1 of its Rules of Procedure;
Also decides that its 45th session will take place in Kazan, Russian Federation, in June/July 2022;
Underlines that the decision of the place for the 45th session is made during the 15th extraordinary session of the Committee due to the exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and should not create a precedent to Rule 4.1 of the Rules of the Procedure.
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/21/16EXT.COM/2,
Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document.
The World Heritage Committee,
Recalling Decision 44 COM 16, adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/Online, 2021),
Elects Italy as Vice-Chairperson of the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, whose mandate will begin at the end of the 16th extraordinary session of the Committee (UNESCO, 2021) and will continue until the end of the 45th session of the Committee (Kazan, 2022);
Elects Argentina as Vice-Chairperson of the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, whose mandate will begin at the end of the 16th extraordinary session of the Committee (UNESCO, 2021) and ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/22/17.EXT.COM/2,
Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document.
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/22/17.EXT.COM/3,
Recalling that the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, initially scheduled from 19 to 30 June 2022, was postponed by the Bureau on 21 April 2022,
Considers that the conditions to hold its 45th session in 2022, as foreseen in Decision 44 COM 16, are not met;
Decides to suspend Rule 2.1 of its Rules of Procedure for the 2022 ordinary session;
Decides to meet again in extraordinary session in the course of January 2023 to take a decision on the date, the venue and the outcome document of the ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/2,
Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document.
18 EXT.COM 3
Organization of the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee (dates, venue, provisional agenda)
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/3 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/3.Add,
Recalling that the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, initially scheduled from 19 to 30 June 2022, was postponed by the Bureau on 21 April 2022,
Also recalling that Rule 2.1 of its Rules of Procedure was suspended at its 17th extraordinary session (Decision 17 EXT.COM 3),
Decides to hold its extended 45th session in presentia from 10 to 25 September 2023 in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the Presidency of Her Highness Princess Haifa Al Mogrin (Saudi Arabia), ...
18 EXT.COM 4
Outcomes of the Open-ended Working Group on Sites of Memory Associated with Recent Conflicts
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/4 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/INF.4,
Part I - Guiding Principles
2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 8B.24 and 44 COM 8 adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018) and the extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) sessions respectively,
3. Considering the fruitful debates held during the meetings of the Open-ended Working Group established at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021) to broaden the scope of the reflection on sites of memory associated with recent conflicts,
4. Also recalling that the World Heritage ...
Sites: Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Centre of Detention, Torture and Extermination Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front) Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero
18 EXT.COM 5.1
Any other matter: Nominations to the World Heritage List - Nominations to be processed on an emergency basis - Lebanon
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/5 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/INF.5,
Inscribes the Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli, Lebanon, on the World Heritage List according to the emergency procedure, on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv);
Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:
Brief synthesis
The Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli has been erected in Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon and the capital of the Northern Governorate, and was designed by Oscar Niemeyer between 1962-1967 and built until 1975. The ...
18 EXT.COM 5.2
Any other matter: Nominations to the World Heritage List - Nominations to be processed on an emergency basis - Ukraine
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/5 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/INF.5,
Inscribes the Historic Center of the Port City of Odesa, Ukraine, on the World Heritage List according to the emergency procedure, on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv);
Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:
Brief synthesis
The historic centre of Odesa is part of a port city located on the Ukrainian shores of the Black Sea. It stands on a shallow indentation of the seacoast about thirty kilometres north of the Dniester River estuary. The city was ...
Sites: The Historic Centre of Odesa
18 EXT.COM 5.3
Any other matter: Nominations to the World Heritage List - Nominations to be processed on an emergency basis - Yemen
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/5 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/INF.5,
Inscribes the Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba in Marib Governorate, Yemen, on the World Heritage List according to the emergency procedure, on the basis of criteria (iii) and (iv);
Taking note that the authenticity, integrity, protection and management of the property or its potential vulnerabilities could not have been fully evaluated at this stage due to the lack of a technical evaluation mission to the site,
Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal ...
Decision: 19 EXT.COM 2
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/23/19EXT.COM/2,
Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document.
19 EXT.COM 3
DATE AND PLACE OF THE 46TH SESSION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE AND ELECTION OF THE BUREAU
Decision: 19 EXT.COM 3
The World Heritage Committee,
Recalling its Decision 45 COM 17, adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
Decides that its 46th session will take place in India tentatively in July 2024, in accordance with Rule 4.1 of the Rules of Procedure[1];
Elects in accordance with Rule 13.1 of the Rules of Procedure, its Bureau with the following composition:
Chairperson: E. Mr Vishal V. Sharma (India),
Vice-Chairpersons: Bulgaria, Greece, Kenya, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Rapporteur: Mr Martin Ouaklani (Belgium),
whose mandates will ...
The General Assembly,
Elects E. Mr Tebogo Seokolo (South Africa) as Chairperson of the 23rd session of the General Assembly;
Elects Mr Gytis Marcinkevičius (Lithuania) as Rapporteur of the 23rd session of the General Assembly;
Elects Germany, Honduras, Islamic Republic of Iran and Syrian Arab Republic as Vice-Chairpersons of the 23rd session of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly,
Having examined Document WHC/21/23.GA/2A,
Adopts the Agenda of the 23rd session as amended.
The General Assembly,
Having examined Document WHC/21/23.GA/2B,
Adopts the timetable of the 23rd session, included in the above-mentioned Document.
The General Assembly,
Takes note of the report of the Rapporteur of the 22nd session of the General Assembly (UNESCO, 2019).
23 GA 4
Report of the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee on the activities of the World Heritage Committee
The General Assembly,
Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee on the activities of the World Heritage Committee.
The General Assembly,
Elects the following 12 States Parties: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Zambia as members of the World Heritage Committee.
23 GA 6
Examination of the statement of accounts of the World Heritage Fund, including the status of the contributions of States Parties
The General Assembly,
Having examined Documents WHC/21/23.GA/6 and WHC/21/23.GA/INF.6,
Having also examined the accounts of the World Heritage Fund for the financial period ended 31December 2019,
Approves the accounts of the World Heritage Fund for the financial period ended 31 December 2019;
Takes note of the financial statements relating to the World Heritage Fund for the period 1January 2020 to 30 June 2021.
23 GA 7
Determination of the amount of the contributions to the World Heritage Fund in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention
The General Assembly,
Having examined Documents WHC/21/23.GA/7, WHC/21/23.GA/7.Corr and WHC/21/23.GA/INF.7,
Recalling Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention,
Decides to set the percentage for the calculation of the amount of the contributions to be paid to the World Heritage Fund by States Parties for the financial period 2022-2023 at 1% of their contributions to the regular budget of UNESCO;
Emphasizing the urgency of securing adequate financial resources to achieve the objectives of the World Heritage Convention to identify and conserve the world’s cultural and natural ...
23 GA 8
Possible measures concerning arrears, including with respect to the examination of nominations submitted by the concerned States Parties, without detriment to the protection of States that cannot pay for causes beyond their control
The General Assembly,
Having examined Document WHC/21/23.GA/8,
Recalling Resolutions 20 GA 8 and 22 GA 7 adopted at its 20th (UNESCO, 2015) and 22nd (UNESCO, 2019) sessions respectively,
Noting with concern the financial difficulties that the World Heritage Fund is facing,
Recalls that the payment of annual contributions to the World Heritage Fund is a legal obligation incumbent on all States Parties which have ratified the Convention, as per Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention, and strongly urges all States Parties, which have not yet paid the totality of their assessed ...
23 GA 9
Future of the World Heritage Convention, including final implementation report of the Strategic Action Plan 2012-2022 and 50th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in 2022
The General Assembly,
Having examined Document WHC/21/23.GA/9,
Recalling Resolutions 17 GA 9, 18 GA 11, 19 GA 10, 20 GA 12, 21 GA 9 and 22 GA 9 adopted during the 17th (UNESCO, 2009), 18th (UNESCO, 2011),19th (UNESCO, 2013), 20th (UNESCO, 2015), 21st (UNESCO, 2017) and 22nd (UNESCO, 2019) sessions of the General Assembly of States Parties respectively, concerning the adoption of the Strategic Action Plan and Vision and the monitoring of the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan,
Recalling Decision 44 COM 14 adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its extended 44th session ...
23 GA 10
Elaboration of a Code of conduct, or a statement of ethical principles or equivalent text – follow-up to Resolution 22 GA 10
The General Assembly,
Having examined Document WHC/21/23.GA/10 and WHC/21/23.GA/INF.10,
Recalling Decisions 42 COM 12A and 43 COM 12 adopted respectively at the 42nd (Manama, 2018) and 43rd (Baku, 2019) sessions of the World Heritage Committee, as well as Resolution 22 GA 10 adopted by the General Assembly at its 22nd session (UNESCO, 2019),
Also recalling that the “Declaration of principles to promote international solidarity and cooperation to preserve World Heritage” is not legally binding, but that stakeholders are called upon to honour its contents,
Thanks the States Parties of ...
The General Assembly,
Having examined Documents WHC/21/23.GA/11 and WHC/21/23.GA/INF.11,
Recalling Decisions 40 COM 7, 41 COM 7, 42 COM 7, 43 COM 7.2 and 44 COM 7C, adopted respectively at the 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016), 41st (Krakow, 2017), 42nd (Manama, 2018), 43rd (Baku, 2019) and extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) sessions of the World Heritage Committee,
Thanking the State Party of the Netherlands for having funded the project to update the 2007 Policy Document on the impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage properties, and expressing its gratitude to all stakeholders of ...
The General Assembly,
Elects E. Ms Paula ALVES DE SOUZA (Brazil), as Chairperson of the 24th session of the General Assembly;
Elects Ms Uyanga SUKHBAATAR (Mongolia), as Rapporteur of the 24th session of the General Assembly;
Elects Iraq, Norway, Poland and Rwanda as Vice-Chairpersons of the 24th session of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly,
Having examined Document WHC/23/24.GA/2A,
Adopts the Agenda included in the above.
The General Assembly,
Having examined Document WHC/23/24.GA/2B,
Adopts the timetable of the 24th session included in the above-mentioned Document.
The General Assembly,
Takes note of the report of the Rapporteur of the 23rd session of the General Assembly (UNESCO, 2021).
24 GA 4
REPORT OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
The General Assembly,
Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee on the activities of the World Heritage Committee.
The General Assembly,
Elects the following 9 States Parties: Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Türkiye, Ukraine and Viet Nam, as members of the World Heritage Committee.
24 GA 6
EXAMINATION OF THE STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS OF THE WORLD HERITAGE FUND, INCLUDING THE STATUS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF STATES PARTIES
The General Assembly,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/24.GA/6 and WHC/23/24.GA/INF.6,
Having also examined the accounts of the World Heritage Fund for the financial period ended 31 December 2021,
Approves the accounts of the World Heritage Fund for the financial period ended 31 December 2021;
Takes note of the financial report relating to the World Heritage Fund for the period 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2023.
24 GA 7
DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD HERITAGE FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 16 OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION
The General Assembly,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/24.GA/7 and WHC/23/24.GA/INF.7,
Recalling Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention,
Decides to set the uniform percentage for the calculation of the amount of the contributions to be paid to the World Heritage Fund by States Parties at 1% of each State’s contribution to the regular budget of UNESCO for an indeterminate period of time, with the understanding that this percentage can be revised in the future;
Emphasizing the urgency of securing adequate financial resources to achieve the objectives of the World Heritage ...
The General Assembly,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/24.GA/8 and WHC/23/24.GA/INF.8,
Recalling Resolution 23 GA 11, adopted at its 23rd session (UNESCO, 2021),
Also recalling Decisions 40 COM 7, 41 COM 7, 42 COM 7, 43 COM 7.2, 44 COM 7C and 45 COM 7.1, adopted respectively at the 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016), 41st (Krakow, 2017), 42nd (Manama, 2018), 43rd (Baku, 2019), extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions of the World Heritage Committee,
Thanking H.E. Ms Yvette Sylla (Madagascar) as elected Chairperson of the Open-ended Working Group ...
24 GA 9
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION
The General Assembly,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/24.GA/9 and WHC/23/24.GA/INF.9 and WHC/23/24.GA/INF.9.Add,
Recalling 41C/Resolution 74, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference at its 41st session in 2021,
Commends the efforts of the UNESCO Culture Sector and the Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs to establish the Model Rules of Procedure, and thanks the Secretariat of the 1972 Convention for having explored possible ways to harmonize the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly on that basis;
Adopts the amendments to the Rules of Procedure as foreseen in ...
The World Heritage Committee,
Taking into consideration Rule 8 (Observers) of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee,
Authorizes the participation in the extended 44th session, as observers, of the 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 in the fields covered by the Convention, listed in Part I of the present document.
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/3A,
Adopts the Agenda contained in the above-mentioned document.
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/3B,
Recalling Decision 15 EXT.COM 3, adopted at its 15th extraordinary session (online, 2021),
Adopts the timetable contained in the above-mentioned document.
The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the report of the Rapporteur of the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee (Baku, 2019).