ICOMOS National Committees

National Committees are organisations that 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 and elaborates its own program according to the goals and aims of ICOMOS. Each Committee 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 the conservation, protection, rehabilitation and enhancement of the architectural heritage can meet to exchange information and views on principles and practices in the field. The 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.

The National Committees implement, locally, the proposed programs of the Executive Committee.

Organisation of a National Committee

Each national committee must agree to accept the Statutes of ICOMOS. Its own Statutes should conform with national requirements and practices, as well as with the ICOMOS Statutes.

Presidents of ICOMOS national committees are elected or appointed from among their members. The Chairperson is responsible for calling at least one meeting of the national committee each year. Other officers elected by the Committee may assist the President. Committees are urged to have a Secretary or a Secretary-Treasurer. Unless the president requests otherwise, all communications from the ICOMOS Secretariat are addressed to him. 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 (or to send a member of their national committee in their place).

How to establish a National Committee?

If a National Committee does not exist in your country and you want to create one, you can contact the ICOMOS International Secretariat to obtain information.

ICOMOS national committees may be established in any country which is a member state of UNESCO. ICOMOS national committees must have at least five individual members. The establishment of a new ICOMOS national committee is subject to the approval of the ICOMOS Executive Committee at its next meeting (the Executive Committee meets at least once a year).

A suggested model for drafting of ICOMOS national committee statutes is available at the International Secretariat.

ICOMOS International Secretariat
49-51, rue de la Fédération 75015 PARIS
Tel: (33) (1) 45 67 67 70, Fax: (33) (1) 45 66 06 22, E-mail:secretariat@icomos.org

  List of National Committees

	Albania		Ecuador		Latvia		Russian Federation
	Algeria		Egypt		Lebanon		Saudia Arabia
	Andorra		El Salvador		Lithuania		Senegal
	Angola		Estonia		Luxembourg		Slovakia
	Argentina		Ethopia		Mecedonia		Slovenia
	Australia		Finland		Madagascar		South Africa
	Austria		France		Malawi		South Korea
	Azerbaijan		Gabon		Mali		Spain
	Bangladesh		Georgia		Malta		Sri Lanka
	Belgium		Germany		Mauritiania		Suriname
	Benin		Ghana		Mexico		Swaziland
	Bolivia		Greece		Morocco		Switzerland
	Brazil		Guatemala		Namibia		Sweden
	Bulgaria		Haiti		Nepal		Tanzania
	Burk-Faso		Honduras		Netherlands		Thailand
	Cameroon		Hungery		New Zealands		Togo
	Canada		Iceland		Nicaragua		Tusia
	Chile		India		Nigeria		Turkey
	China		Indonesia		Norway		Uganda
	Colombia		Iran		Pakistan		Ukraine
	Congo DR		Ireland		Palestine (Observer)		UK
	Costa Rica		Isreal		Panama		Uruguay
	Croatia		Ivory Cst.		Paraguay		USA
	Cuba		Jamaica		Peru		Venezuela
	Cyprus		Japan		Philippines		Yogoslavia
	Czech Rep		Jordan		Poland		Zambia
	Denmark		Kenya		Portugal		Zimbabwe
	Domanican Rep.		Kazakstan		Romania

  India ICOMOS Executive Committee

  ICOMOS International Scientific Committees

The other part of the ICOMOS network consist of the International Scientific Committees that address the specialized concerns of the various fields of the heritage protections, and whose membership cuts across all national committees. The 21 International Scientific Committees are regulated by the Eger Principles, which dictate every national committee, has the right to one full voting member in the committee, plus an unstated number of corresponding members, depending on the work and needs of each committee. Each International Scientific Committee must be hosted by a national committee that provides it a secretariat.

	Committees	Web Link	Description
	Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM)	http://www.icomos.org/icahm	ICAHM was established in 1990 to promote international cooperation in the field of archaeological heritage management and to advise ICOMOS on archaeological heritage management issues. ICAHM provides a forum for the interchange of knowledge and research among archaeologists, other professionals, and decision makers involved in the management of archaeological resources.
	Analysis & Restoration of Structures & Architectural Heritage (ISCARSAH)
	Cultural Itineraries (CIIC)
	Cultural tourism	http://www.icomos.org/tourism	The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Cultural Tourism is one of the international scientific committees of the International Council on Monuments and Sites
	Earthen Architecture
	Economies of Conservation
	Fortifications
	Historic Gardens and landscapes (IFLA)		The aims of the Committee are to promote research, conservation, restoration, knowledge and its dissemination of historic gardens, cultural landscapes and historic monuments on universal, international, national and regional levels. The preservation and protection of this heritage, independent of its maintenance for public enlightenment, is aimed in particular at providing living examples of different areas or styles throughout time and space for the development of the landscape and the physical environment.
	Historic Towns & Villages (CIVVIH)	http://www.civvih.icomos.org	The International Committee on Historic Towns and Villages (CIVVIH) was established in 1982. The Committee deals with questions relevant to the planning and management of historic towns and villages. Its membership is made of experts who have different professional backgrounds related to historic town preservation. They come from ICOMOS member countries all over the world to share their knowledge and experience with colleagues practicing in the field.
	Legal, Administration & Financial Issues (ISCLFI)	http://www.icomos.org/isclfa	The objective of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Legal, Administrative and Financial Issues is to promote international cooperation in the identification, study and solution of legal, administrative and financial issues in connection with the protection, maintenance and conservation of monuments, groups of buildings and sites.
	Photogrammetry & Heritage Documentation (CIPA)	http://cipa.icomos.org/	CIPA Heritage Documentation, formerly The International Committee for Architectural Photogrammetry (CIPA), was established in collaboration with ISPRS (International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing). Its main purpose is the improvement of all methods for surveying, recording and documentation of cultural monuments and sites.
	International Polar Heritage Committee (IPHC)	http//:www.polarheritage.com	The IPHC was established in Mexico 1999 to protect and conserve the vast number of sites in the polar regions of both the Artic and Antarctica which contain valuable information about the heritage of these regions. The objectives of the IPHC are: promote international co-operation in the protection and conservation of non-indigenous heritage in the Arctic and Antarctic; consult and co-operate with Arctic indigenous peoples regarding heritage of cross cultural significance; provide a forum for interchange of experience, ideas, knowledge, and the results of research between administrators, archaeologists, conservators, historians, legislators and other professionals; promote international studies and projects; expand technical co-operation by fostering links with specialised institutions.
	Risk Preparedness
	Rock Art (CAR)
	Shared Colonial Heritage
	Stained Glass
	Stone
	Training (CIF)		The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Training has as its objective is to promote, consistent with the aims of ICOMOS, international cooperation in the identification, study and solution of legal, administrative and financial issues in connection with the protection, maintenance and conservation of monuments, groups of buildings and site.
	Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH)		ICUCH was established as an ICOMOS committee in 1991 to promote international cooperation in the protection and management of underwater cultural heritage management and to advise ICOMOS on underwater cultural heritage issues. ICUCH assisted in the drafting of the UNESCO convention for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage (2001) and continues to lobby for its ratification. ICUCH also provides a forum for debate and information exchange among maritime archaeologists, other professionals, and decision makers involved in the management of underwater cultural heritage.
	Vernacular Heritage (CIAV)	http://www.icomos.org/ciav	International Committee for Vernacular Architecture (CIAV) was created in 1976. The object of the committee is to promote co-operation in the identification, study, protection and conservation of Vernacular Architecture.
	Wall Painting
	Wood Committee (IWC)	http://www.icomos.org/iiwc/	The ICOMOS International Wood Committee (IIWC) was established in 1975. The objective of IIWC is to promote international cooperation in the field of preservation of wood in buildings and structures and to advise on the development of ICOMOS programs in this field.