Safeguarding Jerusalem’s cultural heritage – UNESCO report

Item 12 of the provisional agenda

JERUSALEM AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

35 C/RESOLUTION 49 AND 182 EX/DECISION 15

I. Action Plan for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem

1. The last activities foreseen in the first phase of the Action Plan funded by the Italian Government – the development of a World Heritage Education programme, within the framework of the UNESCO Special Project “Young People’s Participation in World Heritage Preservation and Promotion”, were carried out in the second half of 2009. Several workshops addressing different target groups of youth and educators were held by local experts. Youth and children enthusiastically participated in the workshops and the photography/video course. The educators were very positive about the experience on the cultural heritage of the Old City and are ready to repeat it with their pupils in the coming years.

2. UNESCO is exploring the possibility of using some of the remaining funds for a recently identified conservation/training project – the Rehabilitation of Al Saha Compound Facades – to be carried out with the Technical Unit of the Franciscan Custodia of the Holy Land. The training component, fundamental to improving the conservation skills of the local workers, would be definitely included in the project by testing the Rehabilitation Manual produced in the framework of the Action Plan.

3. The conservation project of Saint John Prodromos Church, funded by the Leventis Foundation from Cyprus, actually started in July 2009, with the architectural survey carried out by the chosen experts. It has been agreed with the experts and the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate that an additional phase of spot archaeological researches and humidity measures are necessary to complete the preparation of the detailed restoration project in the next six months.

II. Other projects

4. The project for the development of an Architectural Heritage Preservation Institute in Jerusalem, funded by the European Commission and implemented in partnership with the Welfare Association, is entering its final phase. The Welfare Association has notably organized a second training course for building contractors, from 3 October to 7 December 2009, on the basis of the curriculum developed by ICCROM and tested in 2008.

5. As a follow-up to the project for the establishment of a Centre for Restoration of Islamic Manuscripts, located in the Madrasa Al Ashrayfiyyah within the Haram ash-Sharif, a new capacity-building project has been developed, with funding from the Organization’s regular programme ($190,000). This new project aims to build the capacity of the staff in paper restoration and electronic inventorying to ensure the long-term conservation of its invaluable collection of manuscripts and other historic documents, which are in an advanced state of deterioration. In this respect, tailor-made training programmes will be organized at the Centre during which international experts will focus on paper restoration and conservation, documentation, and on the reinforcement of managerial and organizational practices. The first session is foreseen to take place in February 2010. Training sessions are also organized in restoration laboratories abroad so as to establish professional support networks with recognized conservation institutions. The Centre's restorer attended a training session at the Paper Restoration Laboratory, Zoopigi, Cyprus, in November 2009.

6. The development of the project for the Safeguarding, Refurbishment and Revitalization of the Islamic Museum of the Haram al-Sharif and its Collection, funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ($1,130,000), which started in 2009, is progressing and three permanent staff members have been recruited for the museum in cooperation with the Jordanian authorities. A working group is to be established to advise on the thematic and technical priorities of the Museum.

7. At its 182nd session, the Executive Board adopted by consensus and without debate 182 EX/Decision 15, which “reiterates its concern as to the obstacles and practices, unilateral or otherwise, affecting the preservation of the distinctive character of the Old City of Jerusalem” and “invites the Director-General to pursue his efforts with the concerned parties for the safeguarding of the outstanding universal value of the Old City of Jerusalem”. In similar terms, the General Conference adopted 35 C/Resolution 49.

8. An addendum to the present document will be issued before the 184th session of the Executive Board, in order to inform the Members of the Board on any related recent development.  This addendum will also contain a draft decision.