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The International Council on Monuments and Sites is an association of professionals throughout the world that currently bring together almost 9500 members in over 110 countries. It works closely with UNESCO and national governments.

Objectives

  • to bring together conservation specialists from all over the world and serve as a forum for professional dialogue and exchange;
  • to collect, evaluate and disseminate information on conservation principles, techniques and policies;
  • to co-operate with national and international authorities on the establishment of documentation centres specialising in conservation;
  • to work for the adoption and implementation of international conventions on the conservation and enhancement of our archaeological and architectural heritage;
  • to participate in the organisation of training programmes for conservation specialists on a world-wide scale;
  • to put expertise of highly qualified professionals and specialists at the service of the international community.

Initiatives

  • the strengthening of its presence world-wide by encouraging the creation and growth of ICOMOS National Committees;
  • extending the influence of the Venice Charter by creating flexible doctrinal texts for specific sectors our built heritage;
  • defining adaptable management techniques for cultural properties;
  • developing training programmes on a multilateral basis involving the collaboration of National and International

Committees 

  • enriching ICOMOS International Documentation Centre in Paris and setting up video and slide libraries devoted to archaeological and architectural heritage;
  • organising and managing expert missions at the request of heritage administration and legal entities which judge necessary the intervention of a consultant for a particular conservation question;
  • playing a vital role in counselling UNESCO on those cultural properties to be included on the World Heritage List and on the reporting of the state of conservation of the properties already listed;
  • reaching specialists by means of wide distribution of the organisation's quarterly newsletter, ICOMOS News, its Scientific Journal, the publication series "Monuments and Sites" on the heritage of particular countries and the publishing of conference proceedings;
  • awaking public interest in conservation by encouraging media coverage and the celebration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites (18 April).

The Organisation of ICOMOS
ICOMOS is a two-tier organisation with an international organisation based in Paris and national committees. Each individual member assists in the work of ICOMOS through promoting its programme of work and contributing to the work of their national committees.

On the basis of the Venice Charter, several of the national committees of ICOMOS have independently developed charters dealing with specific aspects of the protection of monuments and sites.  Following a process of consultation, these charters have been adopted by ICOMOS internationally.  They include such charters as, for example, the National Committee of Australia’s “Burra Charter” and the “Appleton Charter” of the National Committee of Canada.  In addition, ICOMOS has prepared other charters on the topics such as the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Areas and the Conservation of Historic Gardens.

There is a website for ICOMOS on the Internet www.icomos.org.  This site provides up to date information on the activities of ICOMOS, information about national committees and access to the ICOMOS Documentation Centre in Paris.

The World Heritage Convention
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. ICOMOS is recognised in the World Heritage Convention as one of its three formal advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee.  As such, ICOMOS is responsible for the evaluation of nominations of cultural properties submitted by the Member States for inclusion on the World Heritage List.  It also participates in the work of reporting on the state of conservation and management of properties already inscribed in the List.  This involves both systematic reporting, at the request of the World Heritage Committee and of the governments of countries that are party to the Convention, and reactive reporting, where the cultural values for which properties in inscribed on the List are threatened by natural phenomena or human activities.

There are more than four hundred cultural properties inscribed on the World Heritage List.  ICOMOS is actively involved in thematic and comparative studies, technical assistance and training missions.  It also prepared reports on the state of conservation and management of listed cultural properties.

The International Scientific Committees
The members of ICOMOS develop the main objectives of the organisation through the work of 28 specialised International Scientific Committees. This work leads to:

  • The international exchange of scientific information
  • The development of charters on the principles of conservation
  • The participation in joint projects internationally by experts drawn for a wide range of professional disciplines

The following are the present ICOMOS Scientific committees:

  • Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage (ISCARSAH)
  • Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM)
  • Architectural Photogrammetry (CIPA)
  • Cultural Tourism
  • Economics of Conservation
  • Earthen Architecture
  • Historic Gardens and Sites (ICOMOS-IFLA)
  • Historic Towns and Villages (CIVVIH)
  • Legal, Administrative and Financial Issues
  • Rock Art (CAR)
  • Stained Glass
  • Stone
  • Training (CIF)
  • Underwater Cultural Heritage
  • Vernacular Architecture (CIAV)
  • Wall Painting
  • Wood (IWC)

ICOMOS National Committees
National Committees are created at the national level in the countries, which are members of UNESCO. They bring together individual and institutional members and offer them a framework for discussion and an exchange of information. ICOMOS currently has over 110 National Committees. Each National Committee adopts its own rules of procedure, elaborates its own program according to the goals and aims of ICOMOS and implements the programs proposed by the Advisory and Executive Committees of ICOMOS.

ICOMOS National Committees provide a forum where individuals and representatives of institutions concerned with heritage matters can meet to exchange information and views on principles and practices in the field. Each national committee represents the interests of its members, both nationally and internationally. National committees can undertake specific activities on their own initiatives or at the request of their Governments. National committees are a channel through which individual specialists in each country take part in ICOMOS' international activities including, for example, specific missions entrusted to ICOMOS by UNESCO.

Through the annual meetings of the ICOMOS Advisory Committee, national committees can exert a decisive influence on the programme priorities of ICOMOS. National committees can also volunteer to take responsibility (in close co-operation with the ICOMOS International Secretariat in Paris) for some part of ICOMOS' international programme, which is of particular concern to their country.

Each national committee must agree to accept the Statutes of ICOMOS. In addition, its own statutes should conform with national requirements and practices and they must be submitted to the ICOMOS Executive Committee for ratification. National committees should operate to comply with the Dubrovnik Guidelines.

Presidents of ICOMOS National Committees are elected or appointed from among their members. The President is responsible for calling at least one meeting of the national committee each year. Other officers elected by the Committee may assist the President and committees are urged to have a Secretary or a Secretary-Treasurer. Presidents of National Committees are automatically members of the ICOMOS Advisory Committee and are expected to attend and to take part in its annual meeting.

Each National Committee is made up of four categories of membership: individual, institutional, sustaining and honorary members. All the members must be qualified in the field of conservation, practicing the profession of architect, archaeologist, town planner, engineer, administrator of heritage, art historian or archivist. Individual membership may be granted in exceptional cases to other individuals interested in supporting the aims and objectives of ICOMOS.  

All National Committee members have the right to attend and to participate in the ICOMOS General Assembly, which is normally held every three years.

ICOMOS General Assembly
The 16th General Assembly and International Scientific Symposium was held in Québec, Canada, from 29th September - 4th October, 2008. In 2005, the 15th General Assembly was held in Xi’an, China from 17th –21st  October.