On 27 November 2019, Thailand was elected as a member of the World Heritage Committee in the Asia-Pacific Group for the term 2019-2023 at the 22nd General Assembly of the State Parties to the World Heritage Convention in Paris. The total vote it received was 156 from a total of 170 countries eligible to vote, and was the highest vote in this election. Other countries also elected as members of the World Heritage Committee during this General Assembly are (1) Group V (a) - South Africa (130 votes), Nigeria (128 votes) and Mali (118 votes); (2) Group V (b) - Oman (95 votes) and (3) Open seats - Egypt (147 votes), Ethiopia (125 votes), Russia (110 votes) and Saudi Arabia (102 votes). In participating in the meetings of World Heritage Committee, the Cabinet has appointed H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, former Thai Ambassador to France and the Permanent Representative of Thailand to UNESCO, to lead the Thai delegation as proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

 

The World Heritage Committee is one the three principal organs under the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972 (The World Heritage Convention), consisting of 21 representatives of the State Parties elected by the General Assembly to the Convention. The Committee's main function concerns the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the inscription or deletion of properties on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, the examination of state of conservation reports of the World Heritage Sites, the use and management of World Heritage Fund and the allocation of financial assistance upon requests from State Parties.

 

As a member of the Committee during Thailand's ASEAN Chairmanship this year and after Thailand has been recently elected to the UNESCO Executive Board on 20 November 2019 reflects trust in Thailand's active role at the international level. It is also an opportunity to share Thailand's best practices in the conservation of cultural and natural World Heritage Sites internationally as well as promote relation, cooperation and assistance in safeguarding heritages between Thailand and fellow Committee members, State Parties, World Heritage Centre (Secretariat under the Convention) and Advisory Bodies under the Convention. Earning a seat in the Committee also enables Thailand to participate in the administrative affairs and propose policy recommendations in the implementation of the Convention.

 

Thailand has servedthe Committee 3 times previously, during 1989-1995, 1997-2003 and 2009-2013. In 1994 Thailand hosted the 18th World Heritage Committee Meeting, in Phuket.

 

The World Heritage Convention was adopted on 16 November 1972 at the 17th  General Conference of the UNESCO with the objective of safeguarding the outstanding universal value of cultural and natural sites across the globe to be passed on to the next generations. At present, there are 193 State Parties to the Convention. Thailand has joined the Convention on 17 September 1987 and currently now has 5 sites inscribed in the World Heritage List, namely (1) Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns; (2) Historic City of Ayutthaya; (3) Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries; (4) Ban Chiang Archaeological Site and (5) Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex.