The 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (more commonly known as the World Heritage Convention) establishes a World Heritage List to which signatory states can nominate natural and cultural heritage of “outstanding universal value” (OUV). The purpose of the List is to help ensure these sites’ proper identification, protection, conservation, and management. To date, over one thousand sites, including 23 in the United States, have been inscribed. The Convention is said to be one of the greatest successes at cultural politics the world has known.
ICOMOS has a special responsibility as adviser to UNESCO on cultural World Heritage sites. ICOMOS provides the UNESCO World Heritage Committee with evaluations of cultural and mixed properties, which are proposed by State Parties for inscription on the World Heritage List.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is the statutory body responsible for decision-making on all matters related to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. It meets once a year, typically in June or July, to: