Advisory Bodies are international organisations which specialise in heritage protection.
The roles of the Advisory Bodies are to advise on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the field of their expertise.
ICOMOS – the International Council on Monuments and Sites is an international, non-governmental organisation which brings together specialists (incl. historians, art historians, architects, landscape architects, urban planners, archeologists, geographers, anthropologists and also lawyers) engaged in what is broadly understood as conservation and protection of cultural heritage. It was created in Warsaw during its founding Congress in 1965. The resolution regarding the establishment of ICOMOS was passed during the Second Congress of Architects and Specialists of Historic Buildings, meeting in Venice in 1964 on behalf of UNESCO. It is made up of National Committees, uniting over 10,000 members. Numerous commissions work within the organisation, focusing their attentions on a range of specific aspects of cultural heritage. It brings together numerous scientific commissions which concentrate their activities in a given area of cultural heritage.
The specific role of ICOMOS in relation to the Convention includes:
evaluation of properties nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List, monitoring the state of conservation of World Heritage cultural properties, reviewing requests for International Assistance submitted by States Parties, and providing input and support for capacity-building activities.
More information: http://www.icomos.org/en/
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organisation which concerns itself with the protection of natural heritage, and was established in 1948 as one of the first organisations of its kind. IUCN supports scientific research, managing projects all over the world, bringing together government and non-governmental organisations, UN organisations, enterprises and local communities in order to develop and support the optimum conditions, laws and activities for the protection of the safety and diversity of nature, as well as achieving a balanced use of natural resources.
The organisation brings together 83 countries, over 1000 governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as 11,000 experts and scientists from 160 countries. The organisation unites numerous commissions which focus their attentions on a given area of natural heritage.
The specific role of IUCN in relation to the Convention includes: evaluation of properties nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List, monitoring the state of conservation of World Heritage natural properties, reviewing requests for International Assistance submitted by States Parties, and providing input and support for capacity-building activities.
More information: https://www.iucn.org/
The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) is an intergovernmental organisation focused on protecting cultural heritage around the world through training, research, collaboration and educational programmes. Its aims involve supporting the protection and conservation of cultural heritage as well as raising awareness about the importance of cultural heritage.
ICCROM was established by UNESCO based on a resolution agreed upon by the 1965 General Conference in New Delhi. The organisation, based in Rome, was created in 1959. It currently comprises of 135 member states.
ICCROM is one of the three advisory bodies serving the World Heritage Committee, cooperating with the World Heritage Committee and the World Heritage Centre on thematic programmes, expert meetings and in some ways providing expert opinions regarding nominations for the World Heritage List and assessing the condition of existing sites on the list.
The specific role of ICCROM in relation to the Convention includes: being the priority partner in training for cultural heritage, monitoring the state of conservation of World Heritage cultural properties, reviewing requests for International Assistance submitted by States Parties, and providing input and support for capacity-building activities.
More information: http://www.iccrom.org/