Auschwitz Birkenau
German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945)
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Threat to the integrity of the property (tobacco factory project) (issue resolved)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Total amount approved : 20,000 USD
| 1998 | International Expert Meeting on the Planning and ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1998**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998
22nd extraordinary session of the Bureau in 1998:
The Bureau at its twenty-first session fully supported the ‘Declaration Concerning Principles for Implementation of Program Oswiecimski’ that had been signed by the Government of Poland, the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the International Council of the State Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the City of Oswiecim, that foresaw the preparation and implementation of the ‘Urban Master Plan for the State Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau’.
As a follow-up, Polish authorities requested the President of the Polish National ICOMOS Committee to chair and convene a meeting of experts. This meeting, organized with the support of the World Heritage Fund, took place on 2 and 3 June 1998 with, as the principal goal the presentation and analysis of studies and plans for the management of the area surrounding the Camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau.
A preliminary report of the meeting was received from the President of ICOMOS, Poland, on 7 October 1998, with the announcement that the final report is forthcoming.
Action Required
Decision required:
The Bureau may wish to examine information that may be made available during its session and take the appropriate decision thereupon.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998
See draft decision below.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 COM VII.38
SOC: Auschwitz Concentration Camp (Poland)
VII.38 Auschwitz Concentration Camp (Poland)
The Committee recalled that on 5 March 1997 a 'Declaration Concerning Principles for Implementation of Program Oswiecimski' was initialed by the Polish Government Plenipotentiary for the Government Strategic Plan for Oswiecim, the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the International Council of the State Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Mayor of Oswiecim in the presence of the President of Poland. The Committee took note of information provided by the Secretariat on the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration, particularly through an expert meeting that was held on 2 and 3 June 1998 on the spatial management of the area around the two Concentration Camps. It took note, furthermore, of the information provided by the Observer of Poland that further consultations are taking place with the participants of the expert meeting and that the Government of Poland will present a progress report. It requested the Polish authorities submit this report by 15 April 1999 for examination by the twenty-third session of the Bureau.
The Committee confirmed its support for the principles laid out in the Declaration of March 1997 and also confirmed its support that this process continues in a consensual manner among all parties involved. It expressed the belief that no steps should be made unless consensus is reached.
The Committee expressed its readiness to contribute to the implementation of this process, if required.
Having taken note of information provided by the Secretariat and the Observer of Poland, the Bureau recommended the Committee to adopt the following:
“The Committee recalls that on 5 March 1997 a ‘Declaration Concerning Principles for Implementation of Program Oswiecimski’ was initialed by the Polish Government Plenipotentiary for the Government Strategic Plan for Oswiecim, the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the International Council of the State Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Mayor of Oswiecim in the presence of the President of Poland. The Committee takes note of information provided by the Secretariat on the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration, particularly through an expert meeting that was held on 2 and 3 June 1998 on the spatial management of the area around the two Concentration Camps. It takes note, furthermore, of the information provided by the Observer of Poland that further consultations are taking place with the participants of the expert meeting and that the Government of Poland will present a progress report. It requests the Polish authorities submit this report by 15 April 1999 for examination by the twenty-third session of the Bureau.
The Committee confirms its support for the principles laid out in the Declaration of March 1997 and also confirms its support that this process continues in a consensual manner among all parties involved. It expresses the belief that no steps should be made unless consensus is reached.
The Committee expresses its readiness to contribute to the implementation of this process, if required.”
Poland
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
