Rules of Procedure

Rules of Procedure of the Islamic World Heritage Committee

Preamble

In its successive plans, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has given assiduous attention to the civilizational, cultural and natural heritage in Member States in line with the principles of Islamic solidarity which call for cooperation and synergy among them in all fields, particularly in cultural areas on top of which is the protection and revitalization of civilizational, cultural and natural heritage. This pursuit is driven by the obvious lack in the preservation of archaeological sites and historic and religious landmarks at the national, regional and international levels since the loss of any part of this heritage is a loss for the Islamic Ummah, in particular, and for humanity, in general.

As the status of ICESCO Member States’ heritage inscribed on World Heritage Lists does not reflect the actual value, scale and diversity of this human heritage; and given the corollary need for coordination, cooperation, concerted efforts and emphasis on the outstanding status the Islamic civilizational, cultural and natural heritage should occupy on the world heritage map, as affirmed by ICESCO Charter.

In accordance with the proposal of ICESCO General Directorate; the 5th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers (Tripoli, Libya, 2321- November 2007) decided to set up an intergovernmental specialized committee named the “Islamic Heritage Committee” to ensure further complementarity and efficiency for the Organization’s action in the various areas relevant to the Islamic cultural and natural heritage in the Islamic world.

In implementation of the Organization’s new vision, the 8th of the Islamic Heritage Committee, held in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 1819- June 2019, adopted its new name “The Islamic World Heritage Committee”. This step paved the way for the Islamic World Heritage List to become an umbrella for all forms and elements of cultural, natural and industrial heritage and the living cultural elements in the Islamic world while observing their diversity.

Article One : Definitions

A – Cultural heritage: the entire tangible and intangible assets which need preservation and enrichment so as to pass it on to future generations. It encompasses:

  1.  Tangible cultural heritage: it includes sites, landmarks, museum collections, archaeological assets and buildings with a distinctive aesthetic value, as well as various cultural properties, and artistic and handicraft products;
  2.  Intangible heritage: it includes customs, traditions, oral expressions and traditional know-how, skills, arts and traditional games as well as their repositories and those keen to ensure their preservation.

B – Natural heritage: all natural spaces which hold a special value aesthetically, historically and component-wise; and constitute reserves for protection of animal, vegetative, environmental and mineral biodiversity.

C – Industrial heritage: material remains of technology and industry such as mining and sites as well as the infrastructure of energy, transport, railways and their central stations, major factories and mines. It may also include spaces used for social activities related to industry such as housing, museums or education, etc.

D – Committee: Islamic World Heritage Committee

E – ICESCO: the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

F – Scientific Support Commission: commission of experts specialized in cultural heritage who will provide technical expertise for the Islamic World Heritage Committee.

G – Conference: Conference of Culture Ministers in the Islamic Worl

Membership of the Committee:

  1. The Committee consists of twelve members elected from among the representatives of ICESCO Member States by the Conference of Culture Ministers in the Islamic World for a four-year term with a rate of four states per region (Arab, African and Asian regions).

The term of one third of the Committee members shall be extended for the same period by ballot at the first meeting of the Committee after its composition, in concert with the geographic distribution.

  1. The Member States concerned shall select their representatives in the Committee from among heritage sector officials and experts.
  2. No Member State can be elected for two consecutive terms.
  3. Each term begins right after signing the report of the meeting and the appointment of the representatives of Member States.

Bureau of the Committee:

  1. For each term, the Committee shall elect its Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Rapporteur while taking into account the geographic distribution.
  2. In the absence of the Chairman for any reason, the Vice-Chairman shall chair the Committee until the election of a new chairman.
  3. In the event any of the Committee members ceases to function as member of the Committee or declare his incapacity to fulfill his functions, the State concerned shall appoint a new member within a 3-month period. Otherwise, the General Directorate has the right to select a new Member State from the same region for the remaining period.
  1. The Committee shall hold an annual ordinary meeting. However, an extraordinary session may be convened by the Chairman or upon request of ICESCO Director General.
  2. The Committee shall hold its meetings at ICESCO headquarters (In person or remotely) unless any Member State offers to host them.
  3. A quorum of half the members plus one is required for the valid meetings of the Committee.
  4. The Committee shall take its decisions by simple majority of the attending members. In case of a tie, the Chairman shall cast the deciding vote. However, the Committee should reach consensus.
  5. Only Committee members have the right to vote.

The Committee’s meetings shall be attended by:

– Its appointed members;

– ICESCO Director General or his representative;

– Representative of the Scientific Support Commission;

– Representative from each of the specialized regional and international organizations and bodies, if necessary;

– The Committee may invite any of the experts concerned to address an issue relevant to the meeting’s agenda, in coordination with the Committee’s Chair and Secretariat.

The working languages of the Committee shall be Arabic, English and French.

The Committee shall undertake the following tasks:

  1. Suggesting appropriate mechanisms to preserve historical and archeological landmarks and natural sites in Member States, and safeguard and promote the aspects of both tangible and intangible cultural and industrial heritage;
  2. Contributing to provide legal support for the restitution of stolen cultural properties and combating their illicit trafficking;
  3. Providing technical expertise and support for cataloging cultural heritage components and consolidating good governance in the management there of;
  4. Processing Member States requests regarding the contribution of the Heritage Projects Support Fund in financing the operations of preserving, publicizing and highlighting the components of Islamic cultural heritage;
  5. Examining and adopting the reports of the “Heritage Observatory”, as stipulated in Article 8 (II);
  6. Contributing academically to the preparation of reports on the status of cultural (tangible and intangible) natural and industrial heritage in the Islamic world;
  7. Processing and adopting the inscription files of historical, archeological, natural and industrial sites, as well as aspects of intangible heritage on the tentative and final Islamic World Heritage Lists;
  8. Providing technical consultation to the competent parties in Member States to inscribe their historical, archeological and natural sites, as well as aspects of their intangible heritage on the World Heritage Lists;

i. Proposing the mechanisms likely to ensure coordination of Member States’ positions in the international meetings and events

Nomination files submitted to the Committee for inscribing the historical, archeological and natural sites, as well as the aspects of intangible heritage on the Islamic World Heritage List, shall be processed in accordance with the standards, criteria and provisions specified in the Committee-adopted inscription form.

  1. The Secretariat shall draft the agenda of every session in consultation with the Committee Chairman.
  2. The provisional agenda features the following:
  • Any item proposed during the past meeting of the Committee.
  • Any item proposed by the Chairman.
  • Any item proposed by any of the Committee members provided that the proposal is submitted to the Secretariat at least one month prior to the meeting.
  • Any item proposed by the Secretariat.
  • The Secretariat shall submit the provisional agenda and the documents relevant to the items placed on the agenda to the Committee members in the earliest convenience before the meeting.

Scientific Support Commission:

This commission shall assist the Islamic World Heritage Committee. It shall be suggested by the Secretariat and approved by the Islamic World Heritage Committee, for each term, from among experts in the fields of cultural (tangible and intangible) and natural heritage. It shall be in charge of:

  • Processing and assessing Member States’ nomination files to inscribe their heritage and natural sites, as well as aspects of their intangible heritage on the Islamic World Heritage List;
  • Examining issues and files submitted to the Islamic World Heritage Committee and suggesting appropriate solutions thereon;
  • Proposing projects and activities for publicizing, preserving and promoting the Islamic world heritage, and exploring ways to incorporate and employ such heritage in economic, cultural and social development.

Heritage Observatory:

It is a support body to the Islamic World Heritage Committee within the structure of ICESCO’s Center of Heritage in the Islamic World. It shall be in charge of monitoring and following up the situation of the Islamic World Heritage and submitting reports thereon to the Committee’s meetings.

 

 

Heritage Projects Support Fund:

It shall be set up in accordance with the provisions of ICESCO’s Financial Regulations and under the Organization’s supervision to finance the activities of the Committee within the realm of its functions set forth in Article Five. Its resources shall include:

  • Necessary cuts from the general budget of ICESCO Three-Year Action Plan;
  • Grants and donations offered by states, institutions, organizations and individuals without prejudice to the Organization’s internal regulations.

Secretariat of the Committee:

It shall be a permanent secretariat within ICESCO’s Center of Heritage in the Islamic World, and entrusted with the following tasks:

  • Preparing for the Committee’s meetings;
  • Providing logistical support;
  • Ensuring follow-up to the implementation of its decisions.
  1. The present Rules of Procedures shall take effect following its approval by the Conference

of Culture Ministers in the Islamic World and the Executive Council.

  1. The present Rules of Procedures may be amended by the decision of the Committee. However, the amendment remains subject to the approval of the Conference of Culture Ministers in the Islamic World and the Executive Council.
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