Third Cycle of the Periodic Reporting in the Arab States Regional Meeting of Focal Points for the preparation of a Regional Action Plan
From 20-21 July 2020, the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), in close collaboration with the World Heritage Centre (WHC) organised the Third Cycle of the Periodic Reporting in the Arab States Regional Meeting of Focal Points for the preparation of a regional Action Plan. The two-day online meeting aimed at engaging with Arab States representatives, National Focal points and Site Managers to discuss and propose recommendations in view of preparing the Regional Action Plan, which will be implemented in the next six years. The meeting was organised through an online communication platform in order to adapt to the global pandemic situation. Over a hundred participants from the Arab region participated in the meeting, as well the Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention, and UNESCO Field Offices in the Arab States.
National Focal Points and World Heritage Site Managers have worked closely with WHC and ARC-WH since the start of the Periodic Reporting process following the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee in 2018, to fill out Section I and Section II of the Questionnaire.
Since the completion and submission of the Questionnaires in 2019, WHC and ARC-WH have collaborated with experts to extract and analyse the data and results from the responses to compile a comprehensive regional report. The summaries and main objectives of the results and outcomes were then presented and consulted with the participants during open discussions that sparked participants’ feedback and proposals, which will help address the needs of the Arab region.
These exchanges and interventions are essential to the contribution and finalisation of the six-year Regional Action Plan which addresses priorities of the Arab region. The regional report and Action Plan will be presented to the next World Heritage Committee session for consideration and adoption. The States Parties will play a leading role in the implementation of the Action Plan at the regional and national level, supported by WHC, ARC-WH and the Advisory Bodies.
During the Reflecting Period (2015-2017) of the Third Cycle, the Periodic Reporting Questionnaire was updated to include new concepts such as the Sustainable Development Goals and synergies with other cultural and environmental programmes that contribute to heritage conservation. Monitoring indicators have also been developed to enhance the Periodic Reporting process and highlight progress and gaps in the preservation of World Heritage at the regional level.
