World Heritage Committee

10.01.2024

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Why in news:

In a historic milestone, India is set to take the reins as the chair of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee for the very first time.

Key Points

• India is scheduled to chair and host the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee session in New Delhi from July 21 to 31, 2024.
• This provides India with an opportunity to actively contribute to the preservation and recognition of cultural and natural heritage sites on a global scale.
• The World Heritage Committee plays a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, which focuses on the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage sites of outstanding universal value.
• As the chair and host of the committee in 2024, India will have the responsibility to lead discussions, make decisions, and contribute to the global efforts in safeguarding these important sites for the benefit of present and future generations.

About the World Heritage Committee:

• It is a committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• 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.

Structure:

○It consists of representatives from 21 of the States Parties to the Convention elected by their General Assembly.

○A Committee member's term of office is six years, but most state 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.

Bureau of the World Heritage Committee:

■The Bureau consists of seven state 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.

                                               Source:Hindustan Times