Decision 42 COM 7B.65

Cliffs of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) (Mali) (C/N 516)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.64, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Congratulates the State Party for the revision and updating of the 2018-2022 Management and Conservation Plan for the property, and notably for the important involvement of local communities, despite the persisting problems caused by the security situation;
4. Favourably welcomes the measures taken to involve communities in the conservation of the property and the different components of their heritage, and more particularly the community initiatives such as the Dogon Initiative Association (ADI) and the creation of village committees, enabling the restoration work in several villages, and encourages the State Party to continue and strengthen the information and awareness-raising campaigns by and with the communities, notably by including young people;
5. Appreciates the measures taken to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property at both local community levels as well as at the international level, and urges the State Party to increase support to the local communities and intensify cooperation, especially with neighbouring countries to reinforce the combat against illicit trafficking of cultural property;
6. Reiterates its appeal to all the States Parties who are also States Parties to the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property to support Mali in its fight against illicit trade;
7. Also launches an appeal to the international community to support the efforts of the State Party and contribute towards the implementation of the second phase of the Rehabilitation Programme for cultural heritage and safeguarding of the ancient manuscripts of Mali;
8. Also encourages the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to explore the possibility of establishing a short-term distance support programme to enable dialogue for capacity building and the strengthening of the sustainable management of the property;
9. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020.