World Heritage Committee
The World Heritage Committee, its advisory bodies and the World Heritage Centre, all play important roles in the designation and preservation of World Heritage Sites.
World Heritage Committee
The World Heritage Committee is an intergovernmental committee with 21 members. The Committee meets once a year to decide which sites to inscribe to the World Heritage List. The Committee also reviews reports on existing World Heritage Sites and makes decisions on how the World Heritage Convention should be implemented.
World Heritage Centre
Established in 1992, the World Heritage Centre is the focal point and coordinator within UNESCO for all matters related to World Heritage. The Centre ensures the day-to-day management of the World Heritage Convention and organises the annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee. The World Heritage Centre leads on UNESCO’s work to build country’s capacity to protect and manage World Heritage Sites.
Advisory Bodies
The Advisory Bodies provide technical advice to the World Heritage Committee on the nominations it receives. The International Council on Monument and Sites (ICOMOS) carry out evaluations of nominated cultural sites while the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides evaluations of natural sites. The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) is an intergovernmental organisation that provides the World Heritage Committee with expert advice on conservation and training activities.
