Decision 46 COM 7B.21

Aksum (Ethiopia) (C 15)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7B.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decisions 44 COM 7B.3 and 45 COM 7B.123 adopted at its 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) and 45th (Riyadh, 2023) extended sessions respectively,
3. Takes note of the State Party’s submission of the report on the state of conservation of the property in March 2024;
4. Notes with concern that the lack of timely reporting from the State Party due to the conflict in northern Ethiopia until the implementation of the cessation of hostilities, makes it challenging for the World Heritage Committee to monitor the state of conservation of the property;
5. Also notes that previous concerns about conservation threats on the property could be evaluated through the submittal of damage assessment of the archaeological and built attributes of the property to allow to better determine its current condition;
6. Reiterates its requests that the State Party develop an Action Plan with timelines for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2013 and 2016 missions and previous decisions of the Committee, and submit, by 1  February 2025, a copy of this Action Plan, for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
7. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to the property to carry out a comprehensive assessment of its state of conservation and identify measures needed to ensure the conservation management and protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;
8. Calls again for an increased mobilization of the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party, including through International Assistance, to implement the short- and medium-term measures to improve the state of conservation of the property;
9. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1  February 2025 a progress report, and by 1  December 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 48th session.