The World Heritage Committee
The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and consists of representatives from 21 of the States Parties to the Convention elected by their General Assembly. At its first session, the Committee adopted its Rules of Procedure of the World Heritage Committee.
The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
42nd session
of the World Heritage Committee
Manama, Bahrain, 24 June to 4 July 2018
Bureau of the World Heritage Committee
The Bureau consists of seven States Parties elected annually by the Committee: a Chairperson, five Vice-Chairpersons, and a Rapporteur. The Bureau of the Committee coordinates the work of the Committee and fixes the dates, hours and order of business of meetings. The election of the new Bureau will take place at the end of the next session of the World Heritage Committee.
Chairperson: Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa (Bahrain)
Rapporteur: Anna E. Zeichner (Hungary)
Vice-Chairpersons: Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Spain, Zimbabwe
World Heritage Committee Members
According to the World Heritage Convention , a Committee member's term of office is for six years, but most States Parties choose voluntarily to be Members of the Committee for only four years, in order to give other States Parties an opportunity to be on the Committee.
The 21 States Parties of the current World Heritage Committee are the following:
Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Cuba, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Spain, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Rules of Procedure
Established under the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its seventeenth session on 16 November 1972. The Rules of Procedure were last revised by the World Heritage Committee at its thirty-nineth session (Bonn 2015). The Rules of Procedure are periodically revised to reflect the decisions of the World Heritage Committee.
Rules of Procedures (July 2015) Règlement Intérieur (juillet 2015)
Rules of Procedure: Historical Development
Date | Title |
---|---|
2015 | English French |
2013 | English French |
2011 | English French |
2010 | English French |
2006 | English French |
2003 | English French |
2001 | English French |
2000 | English French |
1996 | English French |
1979 | English French |
1978 | English French |
1977 | English French |
Ordinary sessions of the World Heritage Committee
42COM Manama, Bahrain (2018)
41COM Kraków, Poland (2017)
40COM Istanbul, Turkey, July / UNESCO’s Headquarters, October (2016)
39COM Germany, Bonn (2015)
38COM Qatar, Doha (2014)
37COM Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2013)
36COM Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation (2012)
35COM Paris, France (2011)
34COM Brasília, Brazil (2010)
33COM Sevilla, Spain (2009)
32COM Quebec City, Canada (2008)
31COM Christchurch, New-Zealand (2007)
30COM Vilnius, Lithuania (2006)
29COM Durban, South Africa (2005)
28COM Suzhou, China (2004)
27COM Paris, France (2003)
26COM Budapest, Hungary (2002)
25COM Helsinki, Finland (2001)
24COM Cairns, Australia (2000)
23COM Marrakesh, Morocco (1999)
22COM Kyoto, Japan (1998)
21COM Naples, Italy (1997)
20COM Mérida, Mexico (1996)
19COM Berlin, Germany (1995)
18COM Phuket, Thailand (1994)
17COM Cartagena, Colombia (1993)
16COM Santa Fe, USA (1992)
15COM Carthage, Tunisia (1991)
14COM Banff, Canada (1990)
13COM Paris, France (1989)
12COM Brasilia, Brazil (1988)
11COM Paris, France (1987)
10COM Paris, France (1986)
09COM Paris, France (1985)
08COM Buenos Aires, Argentina (1984)
07COM Florence, Italy (1983)
06COM Paris, France (1982)
05COM Sydney, Australia (1981)
04COM Paris, France (1980)
03COM Luxor, Egypt (1979)
02COM Washington, D.C (1978)
01COM Paris, France (1977)
Extraordinary Sessions
11EXTCOM Paris, France (2015)
10EXTCOM Paris, France (2011)
9EXTCOM Paris, France (2010)
08EXTCOM Paris, France (2007)
07EXTCOM Paris, France (2004)
06EXTCOM Paris, France (2003)
05EXTCOM Paris, France (2001)
04EXTCOM Paris, France (1999)
03EXTCOM Paris, France (1999)
02EXTCOM Paris, France (1997)
01EXTCOM Paris, France (1981)
Bureau
29BUR Durban, South Africa (2005)
27BUR Paris, France (2003)
26BUR Paris, France (2002)
25EXTBUR Helsinki, Finland (2001)
25BUR Paris, France (2001)
24EXTBUR Cairns, Australia (2000)
24BUR Paris, France (2000)
23EXTBUR Marrakesh, Morocco (1999)
23BUR Paris, France (1999)
22EXTBUR Kyoto, Japan (1998)
22BUR Paris, France (1998)
21EXTBUR Naples, Italy (1997)
21BUR Paris, France (1997)
20EXTBUR Mérida, Mexico (1996)
20BUR Paris, France (1996)
19EXTBUR Berlin, Germany (1995)
19BUR Paris, France (1995)
18EXTBUR Paris, France (1994)
18BUR Paris, France (1994)
17EXTBUR Paris, France (1993)
17BUR Paris, France (1993)
16BUR Paris, France (1992)
15BUR Paris, France (1991)
14BUR Paris, France (1990)
13BUR Paris, France (1989)
12BUR Paris, France (1988)
11BUR Paris, France (1987)
10BUR Paris, France (1986)
09BUR Paris, France (1985)
08BUR Paris, France (1984)
07BUR Paris, France (1983)
06BUR Paris, France (1982)
05BUR Paris, France (1981)
04BUR Paris, France (1980)
03BUR Cairo, Egypt (1979)
02BUR Paris, France (1979)
01BUR UNESCO Paris (1978)
News (16)
- Twelve new members elected to World Heritage Committee Tuesday, 14 November 2017
- The World Heritage site of Comoé National Park in Côte d’Ivoire no longer in danger Tuesday, 4 July 2017
- Annual Meeting of World Heritage Committee opens in Krakow Monday, 3 July 2017
- World Heritage Committee to Meet in Krakow, Poland, from 2 to 12 July Friday, 16 June 2017
- World Heritage Committee completes 40th session Thursday, 27 October 2016
- Polish city of Kraków to host 2017 World Heritage Committee session Sunday, 17 July 2016
- Eight new sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List Sunday, 17 July 2016
- Four new sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List Sunday, 17 July 2016
- Five sites inscribed on World Heritage List Friday, 15 July 2016
- Four sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List Friday, 15 July 2016
Events (13)
- Information and exchange session and Orientation session on the occasion of 41st session of the World Heritage Committee 23-May-2017-23-May-2017
- Orientation Session for Committee Members 10-Jul-2016
- Orientation Session for Members of the World Heritage Committee 18-Feb-2016-18-Feb-2016
- Orientation session for the members of the World Heritage Committee 22-Jan-2015-22-Jan-2015
- Orientation session for the members of the World Heritage Committee 23-Jan-2014-23-Jan-2014
- Orientation Session for Members of the World Heritage Committee 31-Jan-2013-31-Jan-2013
- 36th session of the World Heritage Committee 24-Jun-2012-06-Jul-2012
- 18th session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention and presentation of candidates for election of Committee members 07-Nov-2011-09-Nov-2011
- 35th Session of the World Heritage Committee 19-Jun-2011-29-Jun-2011
- 34th session of the Committee 25-Jul-2010-03-Aug-2010