INSCRIPTION OF A SITE

How does a site become World Heritage? The process for a site to be inscribed on the World Heritage List involves several actors-from the States Parties to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee.

First, a country becomes a State Party by signing the World Heritage Convention and pledging to protect its cultural and natural heritage. Then, the State Party prepares a "tentative list" (an inventory of sites within its borders considered to be of "outstanding universal value") from which it can nominate sites for inscription on the World Heritage List. The State Party submits the nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre along with a plan detailing how the site is managed and protected.

The World Heritage Centre offers assistance to States Parties in preparing nominations, advising them on the proper format and necessary maps and documentation. Once the completed nomination files are received, the Centre reviews them to check if they are complete, and then transmits them to the appropriate advisory bodies for evaluation. The Centre maintains the official archive of all nominations in electronic and paper versions for research purposes.

Technical input on the nominations comes from three advisory bodies. Two of them are non-governmental organizations, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), which provide the World Heritage Committee with evaluations of the cultural and natural sites nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List. The third advisory body is the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), an inter-governmental organization which provides the Committee with expert advice on conservation of cultural sites, as well as on training activities.

The intergovernmental World Heritage Committee consists of twenty-one members who are elected for terms up to six years by the General Assembly of States Parties at their biennial meeting. Once a year, the Committee decides which sites to inscribe on the World Heritage List, or asks the States Parties for further information. The Committee also examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed sites and makes all other decisions needed to implement the Convention.

Inscription on the World Heritage List is a catalyst to raising awareness about heritage preservation on the part of governments and citizens alike. Heightened awareness, in turn, leads to greater consideration and a general rise in the level of protection and conservation afforded to heritage sites. Regular reporting on the state of conservation of inscribed sites and technical missions, when necessary, ensure the upkeep of their outstanding qualities. Preparatory assistance is also available to all States-Parties in order to assist with: preparing tentative lists of cultural and/or natural properties suitable for inclusion in the world heritage list; preparing nominations and requests for technical cooperation, including training courses etc.