Follow-up to the Director-General’s meeting on “The World Heritage Convention: Thinking Ahead” (UNESCO HQ, 2-3 October 2012)

WHC-14/38.COM/5C

In 2012, the Director-General of UNESCO convened a meeting entitled “The World Heritage Convention: Thinking Ahead” to give an opportunity to the Advisory Bodies, the Secretariat and the States Parties to collectively review some of the main challenges and opportunities facing the Convention. By Decision 37 COM 5C, the Committee requested the World Heritage Centre to present, at its 38th session, a plan and a report on the actions taken and progress achieved in this regard. Furthermore, this matter was examined by the 19th General Assembly of States Parties which, by Resolution 19 GA 11, encouraged all parties concerned to further enhance and facilitate dialogue, communication, transparency and accountability in all processes of the Convention, and invited the Committee to explore means of improving these mechanisms.

This document contains a report on actions taken to implement the agreed measures and presents a plan for continuing efforts to enhance dialogue, communication, cooperation and transparency in the various processes of the Convention.