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WHC-23/GA/1 – page 1

WHC-23/GA/1

Paris, 23 November 2023

RULES OF PROCEDURE

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL,

SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIES

TO THE CONVENTION CONCERNING

THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL

AND NATURAL HERITAGE

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 2

The Rules of Procedure were last revised by the General Assembly of States Parties at its twenty-fourth session (UNESCO, 2023). UNESCO World Heritage Centre 7, place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07 SP France Contact : https://whc.unesco.org/en/contacts www: https://whc.unesco.org/ https://whc.unesco.org/en/ga/ (English) https://whc.unesco.org/fr/ag/ (French)

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 3

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL,

SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIES

TO THE CONVENTION CONCERNING

THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND

NATURAL HERITAGE

RULES OF PROCEDURE

Adopted by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention at its second

session (Paris, 24 November 1978) and amended at its tenth session (Paris, 2-

3 November 1995) (following which the Rules then numbered 13.6 and 13.7 were

aligned with the Rule then numbered 13.4, pursuant to the 23rd session of the Bureau

of the World Heritage Committee (5-10 July 1999)), at its thirteenth session (Paris,

30-31 October 2001), at its fourteenth session (Paris, 14-15 October 2003), at its

sixteenth session (UNESCO, 24-25 October 2007), at its seventeenth session

(UNESCO, 23-28 October 2009), at its first extraordinary session (UNESCO, 13-

14 November 2014) and at its twenty-fourth session (UNESCO, 22-23 November

2023).

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. FUNCTIONS OF THE

ASSEMBLY

Rule 1 Functions of the Assembly

II. PARTICIPATION

Rule 2 Parties to the Convention

Rule 3 Observers

III. ORGANIZATION OF THE

ASSEMBLY

Rule 4 Ordinary and Extraordinary

Sessions

Rule 5 Date and Place

Rule 6 Online sessions

Rule 7 Provisional Agenda

Rule 8 Adoption of the Agenda

Rule 9 Amendments, deletions and new

items

IV. BUREAU

Rule 10 Bureau

Rule 11 Election of officers

Rule 12 Powers and duties of the

Chairperson

V. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Rule 13 Quorum

Rule 14 Public nature of meetings

Rule 15 Subsidiary bodies

Rule 16 Order and time-limit of speeches

Rule 17 Draft resolutions and amendments

Rule 18 Points of order

Rule 19 Procedural motions

Rule 20 Suspension or adjournment of the

meeting

Rule 21 Adjournment of the debate

Rule 22 Closure of the debate

Rule 23 Order of procedural motions

VI. WORKING LANGUAGES

Rule 24 Working languages

Rule 25 Deadline for the distribution of

documents

Rule 26 Summary records

VII. VOTING

Rule 27 Voting rights

Rule 28 Consensus

Rule 29 Conduct during voting

Rule 30 Simple majority

Rule 31 Voting by show of hands and roll-

call

Rule 32 Order of voting on proposals

Rule 33 Voting on amendments

Rule 34 Meaning of the expression “States

Parties present and voting”

VIII. ELECTION AND TERM OF

OFFICE OF THE COMMITTEE

35.1 Procedures for the presentation of

candidatures to the World Heritage

Committee

35.2 Election of members of the World

Heritage Committee

IX. SECRETARIAT OF THE

ASSEMBLY

Rule 36 Secretariat

X. AMENDMENT TO AND

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES

OF PROCEDURE

Rule 37 Amendment

Rule 38 Suspension

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 5

I. FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY

Rule 1 - Functions of the Assembly

Articles 8.1, 8.3 and 16.1 of the Convention concerning the Protection of the

World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by the General Conference on

16 November 1972 (hereinafter the “Convention”), provide for the functions of

the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention (hereinafter the

“Assembly”).

II. PARTICIPATION

Rule 2 - Parties to the Convention

The representatives of all States Parties to the Convention may participate, with

the right to vote, in the work of the Assembly.

Rule 3 - Observers

3.1 The representatives of Member States of UNESCO not parties to the

Convention and of permanent observer missions to UNESCO may participate in

the work of the Assembly as observers, without the right to vote and subject to

Rule 16.3.

3.2 Representatives of the United Nations and organizations of the United Nations

system and other intergovernmental organizations that have concluded mutual

representation agreements with UNESCO, may participate in the work of the

Assembly as observers, without the right to vote and subject to Rule 16.3.

3.3 Representatives of other intergovernmental and international non-governmental

organizations, invited by the Director-General may participate in the work of the

Assembly, without the right to vote and subject to Rule 16.3.

III. ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSEMBLY

Rule 4 - Ordinary and Extraordinary Sessions

4.1 The Assembly shall meet every two years in ordinary session in accordance

with Articles 8.1 and 8.3 of the Convention.

4.2 The Assembly shall meet in extraordinary session if it so decides or at the

request of at least one third of the States Parties.

Rule 5 - Date and Place

5.1 The Director-General shall determine the date of the ordinary session, in

accordance with Articles 8.1 and 8.3 of the Convention. The Director-General

shall communicate such date to all States Parties and observers.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 6

5.2 Unless the date has been decided by the Assembly, the Director-General shall

determine the date of the extraordinary session, which shall then be set no later

than sixty days, unless logistically not possible, following the date of the request

referred to in Rule 4.2. The Director-General shall communicate such date to all

States Parties and observers.

5.3 Ordinary and extraordinary sessions shall be held at the Headquarters of

UNESCO, unless the Assembly decides to meet elsewhere.

Rule 6 - Online sessions

6.1 The Assembly may hold online sessions only during periods of emergency or in

exceptional circumstances rendering in praesentia meetings impracticable.

6.2 At an ordinary or extraordinary session, the Assembly may decide to hold an

online session by simple majority of States Parties present and voting.

6.3 Should at least one third of the States Parties propose the holding of an online

session while the Assembly is not in session, the Director-General shall consult

all the States Parties by correspondence. The Assembly shall hold an online

session unless one third of the States Parties disagrees to the proposal.

6.4 Elections by secret ballot held pursuant to the present Rules in the course of an

online session shall be conducted in praesentia. The Secretariat shall make the

necessary arrangements therefor, including the place and time of the election,

which shall be notified to States Parties in advance of the ballot. Other voting

held pursuant to the present Rules shall preferably be conducted in praesentia.

Rule 7 - Provisional Agenda

7.1 The provisional agenda of the session shall be prepared by the Director-General.

7.2 The provisional agenda of an ordinary session shall include:

a) Any question required by the Convention and the present Rules of

Procedure;

b) Any question the inclusion of which has been decided by the Assembly at

a previous session;

c) Any question referred by the Committee;

d) Any question proposed by the States Parties to the Convention;

e) Any question proposed by the Director-General.

7.3 The provisional agenda for an extraordinary session shall only include those

questions for which the session has been convened.

7.4 The Secretariat shall circulate to the States Parties and observers the provisional

agenda at least sixty days before the opening of an ordinary session of the

Assembly and as soon as possible, and preferably fifteen days before the

opening of an extraordinary session.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 7

Rule 8 - Adoption of the Agenda

The Assembly shall adopt its agenda at the beginning of each session.

Rule 9 - Amendments, deletions and new items

The Assembly may amend, delete or add new items to the agenda so adopted if

so decided by a two-thirds majority of the States Parties present and voting.

IV. BUREAU

Rule 10 - Bureau

10.1 The Bureau shall consist of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson(s) and the

Rapporteur.

10.2 The Bureau shall coordinate the work of the Assembly and fix the order of

business of the session. It shall also assist the Chairperson in carrying out her or

his functions.

10.3 The Bureau, convened at the request of its Chairperson, shall meet as frequently

as deemed necessary. The Bureau may, if the Chairperson deems it appropriate,

be consulted by correspondence.

Rule 11 - Election of officers

11.1 The Assembly shall elect the Chairperson, four Vice-Chairpersons and the

Rapporteur at the opening of each session in conformity with the principle of

equitable geographical representation.

11.2 The term of office of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson(s) and the

Rapporteur will run from the opening of the session of the Assembly in which

they are elected until the closing of the session.

Rule 12 - Powers and duties of the Chairperson

12.1 In addition to exercising the powers and duties which are conferred upon her or

him elsewhere by the present Rules of Procedure, the Chairperson shall open

and close each plenary meeting of the Assembly. S/he shall direct the

discussions, ensure observance of the present Rules of Procedure, accord the

right to speak, put questions to the vote and announce decisions. S/he shall rule

on points of order and, subject to the present Rules of Procedure, shall control

the proceedings and the maintenance of order. S/he shall not vote, but s/he may

instruct another member of her or his delegation to vote in her or his place.

12.2 Should the Chairperson be absent during a meeting, or part thereof, her or his

powers and duties shall be exercised by one of the Vice-Chairpersons, selected

according to the English alphabetical order of the States members of the Bureau

commencing with the country of the Chairperson. A Vice-Chairperson acting as

Chairperson shall have the same powers and duties as the Chairperson.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 8

V. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Rule 13 - Quorum

13.1 A quorum shall consist of a majority of the States Parties referred to in Rule 2

and represented at the Assembly.

13.2 The Assembly shall not decide on any matter unless a quorum is present.

Rule 14 - Public nature of meetings

Meetings shall be held in public unless decided otherwise by the Assembly.

Rule 15 - Subsidiary bodies

15.1 The Assembly may establish such subsidiary bodies, including working groups,

as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.

15.2 The Assembly shall define the composition and the terms of reference

(including mandate and duration of office) and, if necessary, the quorum of such

subsidiary bodies at the time of their establishment.

15.3 Each subsidiary body shall elect its Chairperson.

15.4 In appointing members of subsidiary bodies, due regard shall be given to

principle of equitable geographical representation.

Rule 16 - Order and time-limit of speeches

16.1 The Chairperson shall call upon speakers in the order in which they signify their

wish to speak.

16.2 For the convenience of the discussion, the Chairperson may limit the time to be

allowed to each speaker.

16.3 The consent of the Chairperson must be obtained whenever an observer wishes

to address the Assembly.

Rule 17 - Draft resolutions and amendments

17.1 Draft resolutions and amendments may be proposed by the States Parties and

shall be transmitted in writing to the Secretariat of the Assembly, which shall

circulate them to all participants.

17.2 As a general rule, no draft resolution or amendment shall be discussed or put to

the vote unless it has been circulated sufficiently in advance to all participants in

the working languages of the Assembly.

Rule 18 - Points of order

18.1 During the discussion of any matter, a State Party may rise to a point of order

and the point of order shall be immediately ruled upon by the Chairperson.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 9

18.2 A State Party may appeal against the ruling of the Chairperson. The appeal shall

be put to the vote immediately, and the Chairperson’s ruling shall stand unless

overruled by a majority of the States Parties present and voting.

Rule 19 - Procedural motions

During the discussion of any matter, a State Party may propose a procedural

motion: suspension or adjournment of the meeting, adjournment of the debate or

closure of the debate.

Rule 20 - Suspension or adjournment of the meeting

During the discussion of any matter, a State Party may move the suspension or

the adjournment of the meeting. Such motions shall not be debated but shall be

immediately put to the vote.

Rule 21 - Adjournment of the debate

During the discussion of any matter, a State Party may move the adjournment of

the debate on the item under discussion. On moving the adjournment, the State

Party shall indicate whether it moves the adjournment sine die or to a particular

time which it shall specify. In addition to the proposer of the motion, one

speaker may speak in favour of, and one against, the motion, after which the

motion shall be immediately put to the vote. The Chairperson may limit the time

to be allowed to speakers under this rule.

Rule 22 - Closure of the debate

During the discussion of any matter, a State Party may move the closure of the

debate on the item under discussion, whether or not any other speaker has

signified her or his wish to take part in the discussion. If application is made for

permission to speak against the closure, it may be accorded to not more than

two speakers, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the vote. If the

Assembly is in favour of the closure, the Chairperson shall declare the closure

of the debate. The Chairperson may limit the time to be allowed to speakers

under this rule.

Rule 23 - Order of procedural motions

Subject to Rule 18.1, the following motions shall have precedence in the

following order over all other proposals or motions before the meeting:

a) to suspend the meeting;

b) to adjourn the meeting;

c) to adjourn the debate on the item under discussion;

d) for the closure of the debate on the item under discussion.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 10

VI. WORKING LANGUAGES

Rule 24 - Working languages

24.1 The working languages of the Assembly shall be Arabic, Chinese, English,

French, Russian and Spanish.

24.2 Speeches made at the Assembly in one of the working languages shall be

interpreted into the other languages.

24.3 Speakers may, however, speak in any other language, provided that they make

their own arrangements for interpretation of their speeches into one of the

working languages.

24.4 The documents of the Assembly shall be issued in all the working languages.

Rule 25 - Deadline for the distribution of documents

The documents relating to the items on the provisional agenda of each session

of the Assembly shall be distributed, either in paper format or electronically, at

the latest thirty days before the opening of the ordinary session, and as soon as

possible in the case of an extraordinary session, to all States Parties and

observers.

Rule 26 - Summary records

The Secretariat shall prepare summary records of all statements made during the

plenary meetings of the Assembly in English and French for approval at the

opening of the next session.

VII. VOTING

Rule 27 - Voting rights

Each State Party shall have one vote in the Assembly.

Rule 28 - Consensus

Every effort shall be made to adopt decisions in the Assembly by consensus. If

consensus cannot be reached, decisions shall be adopted by vote.

Rule 29 - Conduct during voting

After the Chairperson has announced the beginning of voting, no one shall

interrupt the voting except on a point of order in connection with the actual

conduct of the voting.

Rule 30 - Simple majority

30.1 When the Assembly resorts to voting, decisions shall be taken by a simple

majority of the States Parties present and voting, except as otherwise provided

for in the present Rules of Procedure.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 11

30.2 The decision concerning the amount of the contributions, in the form of a

uniform percentage applicable to all States Parties which have not made the

declaration referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 16 of the Convention, shall be

determined by a simple majority vote of the States Parties present and voting

which have not made the above-mentioned declaration.

Rule 31 - Voting by show of hands and roll-call

31.1 Except as otherwise provided for in the present Rules of Procedure, voting shall

be by show of hands.

31.2 When the result of a vote by show of hands is in doubt, the Chairperson may

take a second vote by roll-call. Vote by roll-call shall also be taken if it is

requested by not less than two States Parties. The request shall be made to the

Chairperson before voting takes place or immediately after the vote by show of

hands.

31.3 When a vote is taken by roll-call, the vote of each State Party participating shall

be inserted in the summary records.

Rule 32 - Order of voting on proposals

32.1 If two or more proposals, other than amendments, relate to the same question,

they shall, unless the Assembly decides otherwise, be voted on in the order in

which they were submitted. The Assembly may, after each vote on a proposal,

decide whether to vote on the next proposal.

32.2 A motion requiring that no decision be taken on a proposal shall have priority

over that proposal.

Rule 33 - Voting on amendments

33.1 When an amendment to a proposal is moved, the amendment shall be voted on

first. When two or more amendments to a proposal are moved, the Chairperson

shall put them to the vote, starting with the amendment deemed by her or him to

be the furthest removed in substance from the original proposal, and so on. In

case of doubt, the Chairperson shall consult the Assembly.

33.2 If one or more amendments are adopted, the amended proposal shall then be put

to the vote.

33.3 A motion is considered an amendment to a proposal if it merely adds to, deletes

from or revises part of that proposal.

Rule 34 - Meaning of the expression “States Parties present and voting”

For the purpose of the present Rules of Procedure, the expression “States Parties

present and voting” means States Parties casting an affirmative or negative vote.

States Parties who abstain from voting are considered as not voting.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 12

VIII. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF THE COMMITTEE

35.1 - Procedures for the presentation of candidatures to the World Heritage

Committee1

a) The Secretariat shall ask all States Parties, at least three months prior to

the opening of the General Assembly, whether they intend to stand for

election to the World Heritage Committee. If so, its candidature should be

sent to the Secretariat at least six weeks prior to the opening of the

General Assembly.

b) Members of the World Heritage Committee may stand again for election

after a gap of 6 years after the expiry of their mandate.

c) At least four weeks prior to the opening of the General Assembly the

Secretariat shall send to all States Parties the provisional list of States

Parties candidates. The Secretariat will also provide information on the

status of all compulsory and voluntary contributions to the World Heritage

Fund made by each of the candidates. This list of candidatures will be

revised as necessary.

d) This list of candidatures shall be finalised 48 hours before the opening of

the General Assembly. No other candidatures nor payments of

compulsory and voluntary contributions to the World Heritage Fund (for

the purpose of presenting a candidature to the Committee) will be

accepted in the 48-hour period prior to the opening of the General

Assembly.

35.2 - Election of members of the World Heritage Committee

a) The election of members of the World Heritage Committee shall be

conducted by secret ballot whenever five or more delegations having the

right to vote so request, or if the Chairperson so decides.

b) The election of the members of the World Heritage Committee shall be

conducted on the basis of the composition of the electoral groups of

UNESCO, as determined by the UNESCO General Conference at its most

recent session, it being understood that “Group V” shall consist of two

separate groups, for the African States and Arab States respectively.

c) Seats shall be allocated for each electoral group as follows: two (2) seats

for Group I, two (2) seats for Group II, two (2) seats for Group III,

three (3) seats for Group IV, four (4) seats for Group Va, two (2) seats for

Group Vb. An additional seat shall be allocated for Group III and

Group IV on a rotational basis.

d) Notwithstanding, at each election, due consideration shall be given to the

election of at least one State Party which has never served as a Member of

the World Heritage Committee.

1 Resolution 13 GA 9 (paragraph 6) invites the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, to

voluntarily reduce their term of office from six to four years.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 13

e) In case the above formula cannot be practically applied, an exceptional

arrangement may be made to accommodate such special circumstances.

f) Ballot(s) for allocated seat(s) shall precede the ballot(s) for the remaining

seats to be filled. Unsuccessful candidates in a ballot for any allocated seat

shall be eligible to stand for election in subsequent ballot(s).

35.3 Before the election begins, the Chairperson shall appoint two tellers from

among the delegates present; s/he shall hand to them the list of States Parties

entitled to vote and the list of States Parties candidates. S/he shall announce the

number of seats to be filled.

35.4 The Secretariat shall distribute to the delegations a voting paper in the form of a

list of all the States Parties which are candidates.

35.5 Each delegation shall cast its vote by encircling the names of those States

Parties for which it desires to vote.

35.6 The tellers shall collect from each delegation their voting paper and shall

proceed to count the votes, under the supervision of the Chairperson.

35.7 Voting papers on which all names of States Parties have been circled shall be

considered to be abstentions.

35.8 Voting papers on which more names have been circled than there are seats to be

filled shall be considered invalid.

35.9 a) Ballot for the allocated seats

The candidate(s) obtaining in the first round the highest number of votes shall

be declared elected in the sequential order of the number of votes obtained from

the highest to the lowest, up to the number of seat(s) to be filled. In case two or

more candidates obtain the same number of votes for the seat(s) remaining to be

filled, a second round shall be held for those candidates to fill those remaining

seat(s).

b) Ballot for the open (non allocated) seats

The candidate(s) obtaining in the first round, more than half of the valid votes

cast by States Parties present and voting shall be declared elected in the

sequential order of the number of votes obtained from the highest to the lowest,

up to the number of seat(s) to be filled. If there still remain seat(s) to be filled,

there shall be a second round.

35.10 In the second round, the candidate(s) obtaining the highest number of votes, up

to the number of seat(s) to be filled, shall be declared elected.

35.11 If in the second round, two or more candidates obtain the same number of votes,

and, as a result, the number of these candidates is greater than the remaining

number of seats to be filled, there shall be an additional round of voting

restricted to those candidates who obtained the same number of votes. If in this

additional round of voting, two or more candidates obtain the same number of

votes, the Chairperson shall decide by drawing lots among them in order to

allocate the remaining seat(s).

35.12 After each round, the Chairperson shall announce the results.

WHC-23/GA/1 – page 14

IX. SECRETARIAT OF THE ASSEMBLY

Rule 36 - Secretariat

36.1 The Director-General of UNESCO or her or his representative shall participate

in the work of the Assembly, its subsidiary bodies and the Bureau without the

right to vote. S/he may, at any time, make either oral or written statements to the

Assembly on any question under discussion.

36.2 The Director-General of UNESCO shall appoint an official of the Secretariat of

UNESCO to act as Secretary to the Assembly, as well as other officials who

shall together constitute the Secretariat of the Assembly.

36.3 The Secretariat shall receive, translate and distribute all documents; arrange for

the interpretation of the discussions; prepare summary records; and publish the

adopted resolutions and distribute them to the States Parties.

36.4 The Secretariat shall also perform all other duties necessary for the proper

conduct of the work of the Assembly.

X. AMENDMENT TO AND SUSPENSION OF THE RULES OF

PROCEDURE

Rule 37 - Amendment

The Assembly may amend the present Rules of Procedure by a decision taken in

a plenary meeting by a two-thirds majority of States Parties present and voting,

except when they reproduce provisions of the Convention.

Rule 38 - Suspension

The Assembly may suspend the application of any of the present Rules of

Procedure, except when they reproduce provisions of the Convention, by a

decision taken in a plenary meeting by a two-thirds majority of the States

Parties present and voting.