Deadline: 31 July 2020
Dear members of ICOMOS,
As you know, the work of ICOMOS as an Advisory Body to the World Heritage Committee requires the evaluation each year of the nominations submitted by the States Parties for all cultural and mixed properties aiming to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The list of nominations submitted this year and currently being evaluated is available — please email us if you would like us to send you a copy.
While the complete process of evaluation is composed of several stages, a key aspect of the work is the determination of Outstanding Universal Value in fulfillment with one or more of the six cultural criteria stated in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (See: http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/ and for the complete Operational Guidelines, see: https://whc.unesco.org/en/guidelines/).
ICOMOS has relied on reviews submitted by qualified expert members to make determinations of Outstanding Universal Value through a comparative analysis with similar sites elsewhere in the region or the entire world. As last year, ICOMOS is openly seeking desk reviews from any qualified members who would like to contribute one, in order to obtain a broader range of opinions. Expert reviewers should either know the nominated property in question or be able to comment on its significance at the global level; should have some knowledge of the World Heritage Convention and preferably understand the criteria for the inscription of a World Heritage property.
Experts having a role in the nomination process on behalf of the nominating State Party are not eligible to serve as desk reviewers. In addition, please note that, due to potential conflict of interest, it is not possible for an expert to comment on a property nominated by its own country. Desk review_Guidelines can be found here; and the form for Desk reviews is available here.
If you are interested in providing comments on a particular nomination this year, please send an email to whu-deskreviews@icomos.org by Friday 31 July 2020 at the latest, with the following information and a short CV:
Name
Current position
Nationality
Name of nomination(s) you wish to comment on
Connection with the nominated property (e.g. visited, carried out research, know other similar sites, etc.)
Policy paper duly completed
ICOMOS will then send you the appropriate documents to support your review (desk review format and nomination dossier). Please note that your report should be submitted to the World Heritage Unit by Monday 14 September 2020 at the latest.
Please note that all desk reviews are treated in a highly confidential manner, and the names of the authors are never revealed to anyone, including those involved in the final evaluation. Your report will be made available to the ICOMOS Advisors and the World Heritage Panel members.
We thank you in advance for your support.
ICOMOS Evaluation Unit