Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

 

Article 12

The fact that a property belonging to the cultural or natural heritage has
not been included in either of the two lists mentioned in paragraphs 2 and
4 of Article 11 shall in no way be construed to mean that it does not have
an outstanding universal value for purposes other than those resulting from
inclusion in these lists.

Article 13

1. The World Heritage Committee shall receive and study requests for
international assistance formulated by States Parties to this
Convention with respect to property forming part of the cultural or
natural heritage, situated in their territories, and included or
potentially suitable for inclusion in the lists mentioned referred to
in paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article 11. The purpose of such requests may
be to secure the protection, conservation, presentation or
rehabilitation of such property.

2. Requests for international assistance under paragraph 1 of this
article may also be concerned with identification of cultural or
natural property defined in Articles 1 and 2, when preliminary
investigations have shown that further inquiries would be justified.

3. The Committee shall decide on the action to be taken with regard to
these requests, determine where appropriate, the nature and extent of
its assistance, and authorize the conclusion, on its behalf, of the
necessary arrangements with the government concerned.

4. The Committee shall determine an order of priorities for its
operations. It shall in so doing bear in mind the respective
importance for the world cultural and natural heritage of the
property requiring protection, the need to give international
assistance to the property most representative of a natural
environment or of the genius and the history of the peoples of the
world, the urgency of the work to be done, the resources available to
the States on whose territory the threatened property is situated and
in particular the extent to which they are able to safeguard such
property by their own means.

5. The Committee shall draw up, keep up to date and publicize a list of
property for which international assistance has been granted.

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.

7. The Committee shall co-operate with international and national
governmental and non-governmental organizations having objectives
similar to those of this Convention. For the implementation of its
programmes and projects, the Committee may call on such
organizations, particularly the International Centre for the Study of
the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (the Rome
Centre), the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN), as well as on public and private bodies and
individuals.

8. Decisions of the Committee shall be taken by a majority of two-thirds
of its members present and voting. A majority of the members of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Article 14

1. The World Heritage Committee shall be assisted by a Secretariat
appointed by the Director-General of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization.

2. The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization, utilizing to the fullest extent possible
the services of the International Centre for the Study of the
Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property (the Rome
Centre), the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) in their respective areas of competence and
capability, shall prepare the Committee’s documentation and the
agenda of its meetings and shall have the responsibility for the
implementation of its decisions.

IV. FUND FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
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.

2. The Fund shall constitute a trust fund, in conformity with the
provisions of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

3. The resources of the Fund shall consist of:

(a) compulsory and voluntary contributions made by States Parties to
this Convention,

(b) Contributions, gifts or bequests which may be made by:

(i) other States;

(ii) the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, other organizations of the United Nations System ,
particularly the United Nations Development Programme or other
intergovernmental organizations;

(iii) public or private bodies or individuals;

(c) any interest due on the resources of the Fund;

(d) funds raised by collections and receipts from events organized
for the benefit of the fund; and

(e) all other resources authorized by the Fund’s regulations, as
drawn up by the World Heritage Committee.

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.
This decision of the General Assembly requires the majority of the
States Parties present and voting, which have not made the
declaration referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article. In no case
shall the compulsory contribution of States Parties to the Convention
exceed 1% of the contribution to the regular budget of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

2. However, each State referred to in Article 31 or in Article 32 of
this Convention may declare, at the time of the deposit of its
instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession, that it shall
not be bound by the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article.

3. A State Party to the Convention which has made the declaration
referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article may at any time withdraw
the said declaration by notifying the Director-General of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. However,
the withdrawal of the declaration shall not take effect in regard to
the compulsory contribution due by the State until the date of the
subsequent General Assembly of States parties to the Convention.

4. In order that the Committee may be able to plan its operations
effectively, the contributions of States Parties to this Convention
which have made the declaration referred to in paragraph 2 of this
Article, shall be paid on a regular basis, at least every two years,
and should not be less than the contributions which they should have
paid if they had been bound by the provisions of paragraph 1 of this
Article.

5. Any State Party to the Convention which is in arrears with the
payment of its compulsory or voluntary contribution for the current
year and the calendar year immediately preceding it shall not be
eligible as a Member of the World Heritage Committee, although this
provision shall not apply to the first election.

The terms of office of any such State which is already a member of
the Committee shall terminate at the time of the elections provided
for in Article 8, paragraph 1 of this Convention.

Article 17

The States Parties to this Convention shall consider or encourage the
establishment of national public and private foundations or associations
whose purpose is to invite donations for the protection of the cultural and
natural heritage as defined in Articles 1 and 2 of this Convention.

Article 18

The States Parties to this Convention shall give their assistance to
international fund-raising campaigns organized for the World Heritage Fund
under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization. They shall facilitate collections made by the bodies
mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 15 for this purpose.

V. Conditions and Arrangements for International Assistance

Article 19

Any State Party to this Convention may request international assistance for
property forming part of the cultural or natural heritage of outstanding
universal value situated within its territory. It shall submit with its
request such information and documentation provided for in Article 21 as it
has in its possession and as will enable the Committee to come to a
decision.

Article 20

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 13, sub-paragraph (c)
of Article 22 and Article 23, international assistance provided for by this
Convention may be granted only to property forming part of the cultural and
natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee has decided, or may
decide, to enter in one of the lists mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 4 of
Article 11.

Article 21

1. The World Heritage Committee shall define the procedure by which
requests to it for international assistance shall be considered and
shall specify the content of the request, which should define the
operation contemplated, the work that is necessary, the expected cost
thereof, the degree of urgency and the reasons why the resources of
the State requesting assistance do not allow it to meet all the
expenses. Such requests must be supported by experts’ reports
whenever possible.

2. Requests based upon disasters or natural calamities should, by
reasons of the urgent work which they may involve, be given
immediate, priority consideration by the Committee, which should have
a reserve fund at its disposal against such contingencies.

3. Before coming to a decision, the Committee shall carry out such
studies and consultations as it deems necessary.

 

Conclusion

Notes

See Also

References and Further Reading

About the Author/s and Reviewer/s

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 2, Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, Conventions: Chronological Index 1971-1990, Education and culture international conventions, Flora and Fauna – Biodiversity conventions, United Nations System.


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