The General Assembly,
Alarmed by the destruction, neglect, and deliberate erasure of culturally significant sites across the world,
Affirming the significance of protecting and preserving the cultures and histories of all peoples, and the World Assembly’s duty to work to uphold this importance,
Recognizing that culturally, historically, religiously, and scientifically significant sites constitute both a vital piece of the world's shared cultural heritage and an irreplaceable component of the identity and traditions of local peoples and civilisations,
Defending the freedom of World Assembly nations to safeguard places meriting preservation on the Assembly’s behalf,
Hereby,
- Defines“places of cultural significance” as locations holding exceptional and irreplaceable cultural, historical, or scientific value, such that their preservation is of common concern to the international community. Such categories of places which may warrant preservation include, but are not limited to:
- Those where artificially created structures stand or have historically stood,
- Those where a singular or multiple historical events of significance have taken place,
- Those which are of particular importance to religious or cultural traditions.
- Establishesthe World Landmarks Oversight Board (WLOB) as a body managing of the “World Cultural Landmarks” registry of defined protected places, charged with:
- Ensuring the proper protection, administration, and maintenance of World Cultural Landmarks,
- Monitoring the distribution and usage of all designated funds put forth for the appointment, establishment, and upkeep of World Cultural Landmarks,
- Maintaining an updated list of World Cultural Landmarks at risk, consisting of all World Cultural Landmarks that are threatened by significant dangers, such as military conflict, environmental degradation, and neglect,
- Encouraging the further expansion and continued proper conservation of World Cultural Landmarks for future generations.
- Allows member nations to nominate locations within their jurisdictions to the WLOB for designation and removal as World Cultural Landmarks. This is the sole process by which World Cultural Landmarks may be established.
- Requires member nations with World Cultural Landmarks to take reasonable measures to identify, protect, and preserve all World Cultural Landmarks within their own jurisdiction, while providing the WLOB information regarding the condition and preservation of such sites.
