Decision 38 COM 9B

Reflections on processes for mixed nominations

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/9B,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 8B.19 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Welcomes the detailed report made by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies on mixed sites and related evaluation processes;
4. Acknowledges from that report that the review of the decision processes for mixed nominations reveals that in most cases these appear to be more complex than those sites nominated for only cultural or natural values and might require more time at the preparatory stage of the nomination;
5. Further acknowledges the complexities for the Advisory Bodies evaluating in relation to the completeness check of nominations, the re-nomination under new criteria of already inscribed sites to become mixed properties and preparation of draft decisions;
6. Takes note of the project undertaken by the Advisory Bodies on evaluation procedures of mixed nominations, to be completed by 2015, and requests them to prepare, for State Party comment, a discussion document including options for changes to the criteria and to the Advisory Body evaluation process for mixed nominations;
7. Encourages the States Parties to fully consider the potential and constraints of nominating mixed sites at the earliest stages, and to seek early and proactive advice from the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre for such nominations, in compliance with Paragraph 122 of the Operational Guidelines and urges States Parties to take full advantage of the Upstream Process to avoid significant problems during the nomination process;
8. Also requests the World Heritage Centre, IUCN and ICOMOS to prepare an updated joint report on this matter, including options for changes to the criteria and to the Advisory Body evaluation process for mixed nominations, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.