Qatar Elected Member of World Heritage Committee

Qatar Elected Member of World Heritage Committee

The State of Qatar was elected Thursday as a member of the World Heritage Committee for the period 2021-2025, after obtaining 114 votes - the highest among the candidate countries, during the meeting of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the 1972 World Heritage Convention, held during the 41st session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Qatar received the highest number of votes among the candidate countries for the open seats, with 114 votes, followed by Belgium with 103 votes, then Zambia with 100 votes, and Rwanda with 90 votes.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on this occasion, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to UNESCO Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al Hanzab affirmed the State of Qatar's pride in joining the World Heritage Committee, underlining that this choice confirms the tireless efforts of the State of Qatar to promote progress in world heritage standards and awareness at the national and international levels. He added that it is evidence of the State of Qatar's position in preserving and protecting cultural heritage and the international reputation of the State of Qatar in UNESCO.

His Excellency said that the State of Qatar, through its membership and in cooperation with the member states, will enhance the committee's role in protecting world cultural heritage and work together to ensure the correct implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the allocation of resources and effective protection mechanisms.

The Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to UNESCO congratulated all the new members on their appointment to the committee, expressing aspiration that the coming period will be prosperous to serve the world heritage.

The World Heritage Committee is one of the most important UNESCO committees, which was established based on the 1972 World Heritage Convention, and meets annually. It consists of representatives of 21 member states of the World Heritage Committee, appointed by the General Assembly for a four-year term.

The members of the World Heritage Committee study the proposals of countries wishing to inscribe their sites on the World Heritage List and submit reports with the assistance of experts on the legitimacy of the sites and provide a final evaluation for the decision to inscribe the proposed sites on the World Heritage List, as the only body responsible for making that decision. The World Heritage Committee is considered a center of the international resolution regarding the world cultural heritage and the identification of international policies and mechanisms to enhance the human cultural heritage and ensure its protection.

Source: QNA