The Operational Guidelines
for the Implementation of
the World Heritage Convention

The World Heritage Committee,  the main body in charge of the implementation of the Convention, has developed precise criteria for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List and for the provision of international assistance under the World Heritage Fund. These are all included in a document entitled "Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention". This document is regularly revised by the Committee to reflect new concepts, knowledge or experiences.

2021 Operational Guidelines

WHC.21/01
31 July 2021

The Operational Guidelines are periodically revised to reflect the decisions of the World Heritage Committee. Please verify that you are using the latest version of the Operational Guidelines by checking the date of the Operational Guidelines

 English English  French French

Historical Development

Date Title Paragraphs Committee/ Bureau Reference
2021

 English English  French French
 Portuguese Portuguese

290 paras.

44 COM 12

2019

 English English  French French
 Arabic  Chinese  Portuguese  Spanish  Bengali

290 paras.

43 COM 11A

2017

 English English  French French
 Armenian  Korean  Portuguese Portuguese  Russian Russian

290 paras.

41 COM 11

2016

 English English  French French

290 paras.

40 COM 11

2015

 English English  French French
Chinese  German

290 paras.

39 COM 11

2013

English English French French Portuguese Portuguese Vietnamese

290 paras.

37 COM 12I
37 COM 12II

2012  English  English  French  French 290 paras. 36 COM 13I
36 COM 13II
2011 English English French French
Portuguese Portuguese Nepali
290 paras. 35 COM 13
34 COM 13
33 COM 13
January 2008 English French
Spanish Portuguese

290 paras.

32 COM 13
31 COM 18B
31 COM 13A
30 COM 8D.1
30 COM 8D.2

February 2005 Arabic English French Hebrew Japanese Spanish Portugese Russian 290 paras. 6 EXTCOM 5.1
July 2002

Provisional Revision : 
English French

139 paras.

CONF 202 18
CONF 202 28
CONF 202 26

March 1999

English French
Changes to the 1997 Guidelines:
English French

139 paras.

CONF 203 XIV.1-11

February 1997; reprinted 2/98

English French

139 paras.

CONF 201 XVII.1-9

February 1996

English

139 paras.

1995 Bur.
1995 Comm.

February 1995 Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention 140 paras. 1994 Bur.
1994 Comm.
February 1994

English French

132 paras.

1993 Comm.
27 March 1992

English French

117 paras.

1991 Bur.
1991 Comm.
December 1988

English English

112 paras.

1983 Bur.
1988 Comm.
January 1987

English French

113 paras.

1986 Comm.
January 1984

English French

99 paras.

1983 Bur.
1983 Comm.
November 1983 English

99 paras.

1982 Comm.

October 1980

English French

66 paras.

1980 Comm.
17 July 1980 Revised text of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention  
21 April 1980 Revised text of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention  
1978

English French
adopted by the Committee at its first session and amended at its second session

30 paras.

 
20 October 1977 English

27 paras.

 
30 June 1977 English  28 paras.  
Decisions (40)
Show 44COM 12 Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 43COM 11A Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 41COM 11 Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 40COM 11 Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 40COM 2 Admission of Observers
Show 39COM 11 Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 37COM 12.II Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 37COM 12.I Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 36COM 13.II Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 36COM 13.I Revision of the Operational Guidelines