World Heritage 40 COM Compilation of the decisions already adopted by the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee during its meeting in Istanbul, Turkey (July 2016) 2. ADMISSION OF OBSERVERS Decision: 40 COM 2 The World Heritage Committee, 1. Taking into consideration Rule 8 (Observers) of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee, 2. Authorizes the participation in the 40th session as observers of those representatives of the international governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), non- governmental organizations (NGOs), permanent observer missions to UNESCO and non profit-making institutions having activities in the fields covered by the Convention, who have requested observer participation at the session and as listed in Section A of document WHC-16/40.COM/2, 3. Further confirms the participation in the 40th session as observers of all those invited by the Director-General of UNESCO in accordance with Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee and as listed in Section B of document WHC- 16/40.COM/2. 3A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Decision: 40 COM 3 The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/3A.Rev.2, 2. Adopts the Agenda contained in the above-mentioned document. 3B. ADOPTION OF THE TIMETABLE Decision: 40 COM 3B The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/3B.Rev.2, 2. Adopts the Timetable contained in the above-mentioned document. p. 1 4. REPORT OF THE RAPPORTEUR OF THE 39TH SESSION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE (BONN, 2015) Decision: 40 COM 4 The World Heritage Committee, 1. Takes note of the report of the Rapporteur of the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee (Bonn, 2015). 5A. REPORT OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE ON ITS ACTIVITIES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE’S DECISIONS Decision: 40 COM 5A The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5A, 2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 5A adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015), 3. Takes note with appreciation of the activities undertaken by the World Heritage Centre over the past year in pursuit of the Expected Result to ensure that “tangible heritage is identified, protected, monitored and sustainably managed by Member States, in particular through the effective implementation of the 1972 Convention”, and the five strategic objectives as presented in Document WHC/16/40.COM/5A; 4. Requests the World Heritage Centre to inform the Committee of relevant expert meetings and their results in a timely manner; 5. Also requests the World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies, to develop interactive orientation sessions for new Committee members; 6. Welcomes the synergies among the Culture Conventions in the framework of the Culture Conventions Liaison Group (CCLG) and the first meeting of the Chairpersons of all six UNESCO Culture Conventions; 7. Also welcomes the enhanced cooperation and synergies with the biodiversity-related conventions and programmes and invites the World Heritage Centre to continue its engagement with the synergy processes; 8. Invites the States Parties to support the activities carried out by the World Heritage Centre as well as give due consideration to make mandatory and voluntary contributions necessary for the sustained operations of the Centre and implementation of the Convention; 9. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to present, at its 41st session, a report on its activities. p. 2 5B. REPORTS OF THE ADVISORY BODIES Decision: 40 COM 5B The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5B, 2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 5B adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015), 3. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Advisory Bodies (ICCROM, ICOMOS and IUCN) on their activities; 4. Welcomes the harmonization of the reports by the Advisory Bodies and the comments on the progress made and gaps identified for the implementation of the Convention; 5. Calls upon ICOMOS and IUCN to continue to engage in appropriate dialogue and consultation with States Parties to further enhance overall transparency and optimize decision-making of the Committee. 5C. WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Decision: 40 COM 5C The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5C, 2. Recalling Decisions 36 COM 5C, 38 COM 5D, and 39 COM 5D, adopted respectively at its 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012), 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions, as well as Resolution 20 GA 13, adopted by the General Assembly at its 20th session (UNESCO, 2015), 3. Welcomes the adoption of the “Policy Document for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention” by the 20th General Assembly of States Parties (UNESCO, 2015); 4. Reiterates the need to achieve appropriate balance and integration between the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties and the pursuit of sustainable development objectives and invites the World Heritage Centre to develop a strategy in due time, as appropriate, for the implementation of the sustainable development policy; 5. Takes note of the follow-up activities and the progress made by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in disseminating and mainstreaming the policy into operational activities, as requested by Decision 39 COM 5D and Resolution 20 GA 13; 6. Also takes note of the active participation of the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies in supporting Members States in the implementation of SDG 11 and Target 11.4 p. 3 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and of the further work anticipated on developing indicators in this regard; 7. Also notes contributions by the World Heritage Convention to a number of other SDG goals and also invites the World Heritage Centre, Advisory Bodies and States Parties to highlight all World Heritage related contributions in their follow-up processes and reporting on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; 8. Calls upon States Parties to ensure that sustainable development principles are mainstreamed into their national processes related to World Heritage and integrated at the level of local communities, in full respect of the boundaries and the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties; 9. Recalls the Article 13.7 of the World Heritage Convention and encourages all States Parties, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to invite the perspectives of non-governmental and civil society organizations with practical experience of conservation of World Heritage properties in the further development of principles intended to mainstream sustainable development into national, regional and other relevant policies related to World Heritage; 10. Decides to inscribe an agenda item concerning World Heritage and Sustainable Development at its 41st session in 2017 and requests the World Heritage Centre to present a progress report in this regard. 5D. REPORT ON THE WORLD HERITAGE THEMATIC PROGRAMMES Draft Decision: 40 COM 5D The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5D, 2. Recalling Decisions 32 COM 10, 32 COM 10A, 34 COM 5F.1, 36 COM 5D, 36 COM 5E and 38 COM 5E, adopted at its 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), 34th (Brasilia, 2010), 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) and 38th (Doha, 2014) sessions respectively, 3. Welcomes the progress report on the implementation of the World Heritage Thematic Programmes and Initiatives, notes their important contribution towards implementation of the Global Strategy for representative World Heritage List, and thanks all States Parties, donors and other organizations for having contributed to achieving their objectives; 4. Acknowledges the results attained by the Forest Programme, which has achieved its key objectives, and decides to phase it out; requesting the World Heritage Centre to continue to provide support in identifying, conservation and managing forests of Outstanding Universal Value, in view of their contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to forests; 5. Also acknowledges the contribution of the World Heritage Programme on Earthen Architecture to the state of conservation and management of earthen architecture worldwide and requests the World Heritage Centre to undertake the necessary steps for entrusting the main partner of the Programme, CRATerre, with the operational p. 4 implementation of the Programme and to ensure the necessary institutional overview and guidance; 6. Further acknowledges the results achieved by the World Heritage Cities Programme and calls States Parties and other stakeholders to provide human and financial resources ensuring the continuation of this Programme in view of its crucial importance for the conservation of the urban heritage inscribed on the World Heritage List, for the implementation of the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape and its contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to cities as well as for its contribution to the preparation of the New Urban Agenda; 7. Acknowledges furthermore the results achieved of the World Heritage Marine Programme its contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to oceans, also thanks Flanders, the Netherlands and France for their support, notes with concern the possible departure of key donors in 2017 and invites States Parties and other stakeholders to continue to provide human and financial resources to