In conjunction with the 42nd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and in partnership with our network of indigenous peoples’ and civil society organizations, World Heritage Watch is organizing the 5th International NGO Forum on World Heritage at Risk 22 – 23 June 2018 in Manama, Bahrain.

The Forum will follow four International NGO Fora held in St. Petersburg in 2012, in Bonn 2015, in Istanbul 2016, and in Krakow 2017.
The Forum will discuss cases of World Heritage Sites where there is a concern for their protection and safeguarding which should be brought to the attention of the World Heritage Committee and the general public.

Presentations shall provide information about the sites which
– is new and relevant for the protection and safeguarding of the site; and/or
– has not received adequate consideration by the State Party or UNESCO; and/or
– reflects the perspective of the local population at the site and/or civil society actors;
in order to help the World Heritage Committee and its Advisory Bodies to have a more comprehensive assessment of the site and thus arrive at better decisions during its session.

Papers should cover sites which will be on the agenda of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s 42nd Session, or which should be put on the agenda with urgency. In addition to sites which are inscribed on the World Heritage List, the Forum will also consider sites which are nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List, which are on a Tentative List or should be on a Tentative List.

Papers should be as specific, concise and detailed as possible. Where applicable, they should refer as much as possible to prior decisions of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and should make clear suggestions for action. For general orientation we also suggest that you consult the Final Document of the WHW 2015 Bonn Conference, and the list of sites on the agenda of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee Meeting, both of which can be found on the WHW website.

Any and all persons of any occupational background – except officials involved on national or international level in decision-making on world heritage sites – are invited to submit papers. Representatives of non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples, local initiatives and professional associations related to conservation and/or the empowerment of civil society or indigenous peoples will be given priority when papers are selected for presentation on the Forum.
In addition to presentation on the Forum, World Heritage Watch may also arrange access to the media and an additional presentation as a side event during the UNESCO WH Committee Meeting.
Please send your full paper in English language by 10 March 2018 to contact(at)world-heritage-watch.org.

More information