The Regional meeting for World Heritage Focal Points in the Arab States is organised by ARC-WH in collaboration with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Manama
The regional meeting for World Heritage Focal Points in the Arab States began on 5 December 2023, at the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH). The meeting is scheduled for two days and is a collaborative effort between the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and ARC-WH. It involves representatives from 19 Arab countries, as well as representatives from UNESCO Advisory Bodies, including the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
The purpose of the meeting is to review the implementation of the regional Action Plan for the Arab States (2021-2027), which was adopted based on the results of the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Arab region at the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2021. This meeting serves as an opportunity to enhance cooperation among Arab experts in the fields of cultural and natural heritage, identify conservation and preservation priorities for World Heritage sites in the Arab region for the coming years, and explore how to better integrate sustainable development policies into management processes.
UNESCO describes Periodic Reporting as an exercise that assesses the conservation and protection of World Heritage properties worldwide, in addition to evaluating the overall application of the 1972 World Heritage Convention. The goals of Periodic Reporting also include assisting in addressing challenges faced by World Heritage sites, exchanging experiences, knowledge, and lessons among State Parties and site managers, as well as promoting international cooperation and awareness about the World Heritage Convention.
