Policy Compendium
Article 8
1. An Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the Cultural and Natural Heritage of Outstanding Universal Value, called "the World Heritage Committee", is hereby established within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It shall be composed of 15 States Parties to the Convention, elected by States Parties to the Convention meeting in general assembly during the ordinary session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The number of States members of the Committee shall be increased to 21 as from the date of the ordinary session of the General Conference following the entry into force of this Convention for at least 40 States.
2. Election of members of the Committee shall ensure an equitable representation of the different regions and cultures of the world.
3. A representative of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (Rome Centre), a representative of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and a representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), to whom may be added, at the request of States Parties to the Convention meeting in general assembly during the ordinary sessions of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, representatives of other intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations, with similar objectives, may attend the meetings of the Committee in an advisory capacity.
Article 9
3. States members of the Committee shall choose as their representatives persons qualified in the field of the cultural or natural heritage.
Theme: | 1.1.2 - World Heritage Committee |
Source: | Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage |
Theme: | 1.1.2 - World Heritage Committee |
Resolution: | 1 EXT.GA 3 |
Theme: | 1.1.2 - World Heritage Committee |
Decision: | 35 COM 12B |
Theme: | 1.1.2 - World Heritage Committee |
Decision: | 43 COM 7.1 |
Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
Resolution: | 23 GA 7 |
Article 13.6
The Committee shall decide on the use of the resources of the Fund established under Article 15 of this Convention. It shall seek ways of increasing these resources and shall take all useful steps to this end.
Article 15
1. A Fund for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Outstanding Universal Value, called "the World Heritage Fund", is hereby established.
4. Contributions to the Fund and other forms of assistance made available to the Committee may be used only for such purposes as the Committee shall define. The Committee may accept contributions to be used only for a certain programme or project, provided that the Committee shall have decided on the implementation of such programme or project. No political conditions may be attached to contributions made to the Fund.
Article 16
1. Without prejudice to any supplementary voluntary contribution, the States Parties to this Convention undertake to pay regularly, every two years, to the World Heritage Fund, contributions, the amount of which, in the form of a uniform percentage applicable to all States, shall be determined by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention, meeting during the sessions of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (…).
Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
Source: | Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage |
- Option 1: Increasing the standard percentage used in the calculation of the contributions to the World Heritage Fund from 1% to 2%.
Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
Resolution: | 19 GA 8 |
(ii) Emergency International Assistance,
(iii) International Assistance to properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger,
(iv) Other International Assistance to States Parties, with priority to Preparatory Assistance,
(v) Funds to ensure that the Advisory Bodies have sufficient resources to enable them fulfill their obligations under the Convention”.
Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
Decision: | 27 COM 11.3 |
6. Emphasizing the urgency of securing adequate financial resources to achieve the objectives of the 1972 Conventionto identify and, in particular, to conserve the world's cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value, especially in light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and unprecedented threats such as climate change, natural disasters, and deliberate attacks on cultural heritage in territories affected by armed conflicts and terrorism.
8. Underscoring that sustainability of the World Heritage Fund and overall funding for World Heritage are a strategic issue and a shared responsibility which concerns States Parties and relevant partners, affecting the overall credibility of the World Heritage Convention, including effectiveness and efficiency of World Heritage protection.
17. [The World Heritage Committee] underscores that the highest ethical standards and principles must be upheld in all measures to enhance fundraising to maintain and promote the integrity of the Convention.
Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
Decision: | 41 COM 14 |
4. [The World Heritage Committee] recalls that the payment of compulsory and assessed voluntary contributions is, as per Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention, an obligation incumbent on all States Parties which have ratified the Convention (…).
Theme: | 1.1.3 - Funding |
Decision: | 42 COM 14 |
28. “Sustainable development and the conservation of the world’s cultural and natural heritage are undermined by war, civil conflict and all forms of violence. The World Heritage Convention is an integral part of UNESCO’s established mandate to build bridges towards peace and security. It is therefore incumbent upon States Parties, in conformity also with provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The 1954 Hague Convention) and its two (1954 and 1999) Protocols, for the States that have ratified them, as well as in accordance with the UNESCO Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage (2003) and international customary law protecting cultural property in the event of armed conflict, to ensure that the implementation of the World Heritage Convention is used to promote the achievement and maintenance of peace and security between and within States Parties”.
29. “Recalling also the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001), States Parties should therefore acknowledge the reality of cultural diversity within and around many World Heritage properties, and promote a culturally pluralistic approach in strategies for their conservation and management. (…)”.
Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Source: | Policy for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention (WHC-15/20.GA/INF.13) |
Paragraph 41
“The World Heritage Committee recognizes the benefits of closer co-ordination of its work with other UNESCO programmes and their relevant Conventions (…)”.Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Source: | OG Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (WHC.19/01 - 10 July 2019) |
Paragraph 42
“The World Heritage Committee with the support of the Secretariat will ensure appropriate coordination and information-sharing between the World Heritage Convention and other Conventions, programmes and international organizations related to the conservation of cultural and natural heritage.”Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Source: | OG Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (WHC.19/01 - 10 July 2019) |
Paragraph 44
Selected global Conventions and programmes relating to the protection of cultural and natural heritage
Other Conventions
Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Source: | OG Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (WHC.19/01 - 10 July 2019) |
Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Resolution: | 16 GA 10 |
Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Decision: | 40 COM 7 |
Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Decision: | 41 COM 7 |
Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Decision: | 41 COM 14 |
Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Decision: | 42 COM 5A |
Theme: | 1.2 - UNESCO standard-setting texts and synergies with other Conventions and Programmes |
Decision: | 42 COM 7 |
The World Heritage Policy Compendium was elaborated thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of Australia.
The World Heritage Policy Compendium On-line tool was developed thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of Korea.