The 46th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee (WHC), hosted by India for the first time, was held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi (India) from 21st to 31st July 2024.
- The Committee inscribed 26 new heritage sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
46th Session of WHC:
Bureau Members:
- Chairperson: H.E. Mr Vishal V. Sharma (India)
- Rapporteur: Mr Martin Ouaklani (Belgium)
- Vice-Chairpersons: Bulgaria, Greece, Kenya, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Inauguration:
The 46th session of WHC was inaugurated by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, alongwith Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO and other international dignitaries.
Closing ceremony:
The closing ceremony was graced by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Culture(MoC) and Ministry of Tourism; Vishal V. Sharma, Chairman of WHC; and Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of WHC, UNESCO and other key dignitaries.
Participants:
Over 150 State Parties, signatories to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, attend this annual meeting to manage works related to World Heritage, including inscription of new sites.
Highlights:
i.Nauru (island country in Micronesia) ratified the World Heritage Convention and became its 196th State Party.
ii.Bulgaria will host the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Sofia in 2025. The proposal was voted on during the 46th session of the committee.
About the World Heritage Committee:
i.The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and consists of representatives from 21 of the States Parties to the Convention elected by their General Assembly.
ii.It is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, which defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
iii.It also makes decision regarding inscription on the World Heritage List.
- The UNESCO World Heritage list aims to preserve and promote shared heritage with Outstanding Universal Values (OUVs) across cultural, natural, and mixed properties in 195 countries.
Additional Info:
i.India was elected to the 21-member WHC in the 23rd General Assembly in 2021 for a period of four years (2021-2025).
ii.This is India’s fourth term on WHC after 1985-1991, 2001-2007 and 2011-2015.
26 New Sites Approved for Inclusion in the World Heritage List
i.The 46th session of WHC inscribed 26 new World Heritage Sites viz. 19 cultural, 4 natural, and 1 mixed property and 2 Significant modifications to existing boundaries.
ii.Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
iii.The Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer in Palestine was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Significant modifications to existing boundaries:
i.Moravian Church Settlements in Denmark (inscribed on the list in 2015). The extension includes three municipalities founded in the 18th century: Herrnhut (Germany), Bethlehem (the United States of America-USA), and Gracehill (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).
ii.Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II) (inscribesd on the list in 2019).
List of 24 New Sites:
| S.no | Heritage Site | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural | ||
| 1 | Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty | Assam, India |
| 2 | Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital | China |
| 3 | Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu | Romania |
| 4 | Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake | Russian Federation |
| 5 | Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia | Romania |
| 6 | Hegmataneh | Iran |
| 7 | Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites | South Africa |
| 8 | Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia | Ethiopia |
| 9 | Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period | Thailand |
| 10 | Royal Court of Tiébélé | Burkina Faso |
| 11 | Sado Island Gold Mines | Japan |
| 12 | Schwerin Residence Ensemble | Germany |
| 13 | The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex | Malaysia |
| 14 | The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area | Saudi Arabia |
| 15 | The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa | South Africa |
| 16 | The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi | Kenya |
| 17 | Umm Al-Jimāl | Jordan |
| 18 | Via Appia. Regina Viarum | Italy |
| 19 | Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer | State of Palestine (Heritage site in Danger) |
| Natural | ||
| 20 | Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and Lakes | China |
| 21 | Lençóis Maranhenses National Park | Brazil |
| 22 | The Flow Country | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 23 | Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Mixed | ||
| 24 | Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands | France |
Points to note:
i.With the addition of 24 new sites, the UNESCO Heritage list now features 1,223 sites: 952 cultural, 231 natural, and 40 mixed.
ii.Italy has the most sites with 60, followed by China with 59.
iii.India ranks 6th globally with 43 World Heritage Properties.
About Assam’s Moidams:
The 700 years old Charaideo Moidams – The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty from Assam became India’s 43rd World Heritage Site. It is the first cultural site from Assam and North East India to receive this recognition.
- This is the third World Heritage Property from Assam, following Kaziranga National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, which were inscribed under the Natural category in 1985.
- Located in the Charaideo district, Moidams are sacred burial mounds of the Ahom dynasty, reflecting six centuries of cultural and architectural development.
History:
The Tai-Ahom clan, migrating from China, established their first capital at Choraideo in the Brahmaputra River Valley under Chau-lung Siu-ka-pha at the foothills of the Patkai hills between the 12th and 18th centuries CE.
- Known as Che-rai-doi or Che-tam-doi, this sacred site reflected the deep spiritual beliefs of the Tai-Ahoms, and served as a burial ground for Tai-Ahom royals, symbolizing their transition into the afterlife.
- The Tai-Ahom constructed moidams, or “home-for-spirit”, using natural elements like hills, forests, and water to create a sacred geography.
- 90 moidams, hollow vaults built of brick, stone or earth, of different sizes are found within the site.
India Commits USD 1 Million to UNESCO for Global Conservation Efforts
PM Narendra Modi announced a USD 1 million grant to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. This funding will support capacity building, technical assistance, and the conservation of world heritage sites.
India and USA sign 1st Cultural Property Agreement
On the sidelines of 46th WHC, the Government of India (GoI) and the Government of the USA signed the first ever ‘Cultural Property Agreement’ to prevent and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities from India to the USA.
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Govind Mohan, Secretary, MoC and Eric Garcetti, Ambassador of the USA to India in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MoC.
Key Points:
i.The CPA aligns with the 1970 UNESCO Convention to prevent the illicit import, export, and transfer of cultural property, to which both countries are signatories.
ii.Illicit trafficking of cultural property has long impacted many cultures, including India, where numerous antiquities were smuggled out before the 1970 UNESCO Convention.
iii.The Agreement facilitates the quick seizure and repatriation of Indian antiquities at US Customs.
iv.The USA has similar agreements with 29 other countries, including Algeria, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Jordan, Mali, Morocco, Peru and Turkey.
v.The U.S.-India Cultural Property Agreement was negotiated by the State Department under U.S. law implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention.
ASI-ICCROM Agreement:
Apart from above, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also signed an agreement with Rome, Italy based International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) for capacity building and research on tangible heritage.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Inaugurates Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum in New Delhi, Delhi. This museum is a joint effort between the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
- India’s first underground museum(sunken museum), inspired by Delhi’s ancient ‘Baolis,’ houses over 500 artefacts, including manuscripts, architectural elements, and art pieces, representing 700 years of history.
- It highlights India’s rich cultural heritage, featuring works by Dara Shikoh and Rahim.
- The museum supports also India’s vision of integrating development with heritage.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Establishment– 1945
