UNESCO Committee Meets in Busan to Vote on Heritage Sites

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will meet in Busan, South Korea, from July 19 to 29 to vote on new additions to the World Heritage and World Heritage in Danger lists. Under an emergency procedure, the committee will consider simultaneously adding the archaeological site of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank, the Mount Amel Castles in Lebanon, and the Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape in South Sudan to both lists.

Other sites facing possible endangered status due to conflict, pollution, or environmental damage include the ruins of Tyre in Lebanon, the Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese in Russian-occupied Crimea, and Lake Baikal in Russia. Meanwhile, locations including the D-Day landing beaches in France, two Amazonian theaters in Brazil, and the village of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia are seeking standard World Heritage status.

Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, clarified that the in danger listing is intended to help nations attract funding and international attention rather than serve as a reprimand. He noted that safeguarding heritage allows communities that have been traumatized by conflict to begin to rebuild.