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This document was prepared pursuant to a resolution of the General Assembly, Lausanne, October 1990, confirmed by the Advisory Committee, May 1991, and implemented by a decision of the Bureau, August 1991.

I. Introduction

1. ICOMOS expects the International Committees to be at the heart of scientific inquiry and exchange in their domains. ICOMOS expects the Committees to actively pursue programmes which define research needs, stimulate and support research activity, and increase exchange and dissemination in order to promote greater understanding in the field.

ICOMOS further expects the Committees to be accessible to all qualified individuals and groups with a capacity to contribute, democratic in their operations and concerned with increasing the impact of their programmes on standards of care in the field.

2. For convenience and to assure co-ordination of their activities, Committees may be grouped in four broad fields of activities:

- recognition of the heritage;
- technology and process;
- management;
- doctrine.

3. These principles are meant to guide the activities of all the specialised International Scientific Committees of ICOMOS.

II. Operating framework

1. While desiring to accord the International Committees the maximum of independence and flexibility in support of their objectives, the Committees are expected to work within the framework established by the overall objectives and statutes of ICOMOS.

2. The International Scientific Committees shall adopt goals and objectives supported by appropriate statutes, budgets, rules of procedure and programmes, all in accord with the overall objectives and statutes of ICOMOS.

3. National Committees or specialised institutions wishing to sponsor an ICOMOS International Committee must present their proposals to the Secretary-General of ICOMOS who in turn will present such to the Bureau before submission to the Executive Committee.

Proposals shall include descriptions of:

- long-term aims and associated programmes of activity;
- proposed Committee statutes;
- proposed members including designated Officers;
- details of financial and administrative support offered by the host country, national committee or institution.

International Committees may propose statutes and methods of operation outside the operating framework described above, appropriate for the effective functioning of the International Committee, subject however to approval by the Executive Committee.

4. The committee shall submit during each General Assembly for review by the members of ICOMOS, the following programme

- a clear and precise set of objectives for the coming three year period;
- a work programme;
- a strategy for its realisation;
- a budget and financial plan.

5. The Committee shall submit an annual report to the Executive Committee by 31 March each year. The content of the report shall conform to a standard format prescribed by the Executive Committee.

The report shall include a list of voting, associate and honorary members, the minutes of meetings of the Committee, reports of symposia conducted by the Committee and progress made in respect of the objectives of the three year programme.

6. This document supersedes:
- “Directives for the International Specialised Committees of ICOMOS” (Somma Vesuviana), adopted 12 December 1982;
- “Guidelines for ICOMOS International Committees”, undated;
- “Guidelines for International Committees”, Paris, 19-20 February 1985.

III. President

1. In accord with article 14 b. of the Statutes, the first President of the Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee of ICOMOS for a term of office not exceeding three years.

2. The President may not serve more than three consecutive terms of office, as President, but those terms shall be considered independently from any previous terms as a voting member of the Committee. The President will be an ex-officio voting member.

3. In accordance with article 12 of the ICOMOS Statutes, the President shall be an ex-officio member of the ICOMOS Advisory Committee.

IV. Membership

1. The following principles constitute a recommended basis for membership within International Committees, in order to ensure that membership is open to all qualified specialists in the field, offers equal access for participation to professionals of diverse regions, cultures, disciplines and resources, is democratic in its processes and ensures reasonable rotation of leadership.

2. Membership of International Committee should be open to members of ICOMOS with established expertise in the relevant field. Committees will normally include voting, associate and honorary members.

3. Voting members should be proposed by the relevant National Committee, or the Chair of the International Committees. Approval must not be withheld without adequate justification. Vacancies in the existing Committee should be filled by vote of the voting members from among legitimate candidates proposed.

4. Voting members normally shall be limited to one per country, for those countries in which National Committees have been established.

5. The Committee shall, as far as possible, ensure equitable regional representation within the voting membership subject to fulfilment of the necessary expertise.

6. Election to the Committee as a voting member should normally be for a term of not more than three consecutive years. A voting member would not normally serve for more than three consecutive terms.

7. Committees may establish associate members. These may include co-opted members, corresponding members (individuals and institutions engaged in activities relevant to the objects of the Committee) and any other classes of membership appropriate to the Committee’s needs.

8. Honorary members may be elected by the Committee in recognition of the services they have rendered to the Committee and of their activities in favour of its objectives. All members who have served nine consecutive years should normally be eligible. Honorary members may participate in all activities of the Committee but would not normally vote.

9. The Committee should establish a voting system appropriate to its needs. Elections for its officers should be secret and may include the use of postal or proxy ballots.

V. Administration

1. The Committee is encouraged to meet at least once each year.

2. As far as possible the meetings of the Committee shall rotate between the regions of voting members active in the Committee. However the Committees are also encouraged to organise their meetings in countries or regions which are not represented, in particular in countries in the developing world.

3. Formal reports submitted to ICOMOS shall be in both working languages of ICOMOS. The proceedings of meetings shall be conducted in one or both of the working languages according to the requirements of the members.

VI. Financing

1. The members of the Committee shall use their best efforts to obtain the funds necessary to ensure their own participation in the Committee’s activities. ICOMOS is prepared to assist in seeking aid from UNESCO of other international organisations, but suggests that Committees also seek sponsorship from specialised institutions in the field.

2. National Committees shall make every effort to host and provide financial assistance for all aspects of the meetings of the International Committees.

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