From 18-22 April 2018, the UNESCO Regional Thematic Expert Consultation meeting on sustainable management of World Heritage properties of Religious Interest took place in Yerevan, Armenia. This was the first meeting of the UNESCO Initiative on World heritage Sites of religious Interest to be held outside Europe. Although the focus was Eastern Europe, the meeting was attended by participants from Central Europe (Poland), Northern Europe (Finland), Southern Europe (Greece) and Western Asia (Armenia and Georgia), plus the FYR of Macedonia, Ukraine and Russia. In addition to governmental experts, representatives of the Christian Churches of Armenia, Georgia and Russia, and one from the Holy See- Vatican State also participated.
Josep-Maria Mallarach, CSVPA steering committee member, and representative of IUCN (pictured above) participated, making a presentation on the IUCN contributions to safeguarding sacred natural sites in World Heritage properties.
The main outcome of the meeting was the Yerevan Recommendation, where the governance dimension was clearly included. Further elaboration of the existing draft general guidance regarding the management of world heritage of religious interest is expected in the near future. Next meetings of the Initiative were suggested in Ukraine, Russia and Georgia during 2018 and 2019.
More information at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/863/
