On 4 September 1996 Cabinet decided that Robben Island should be "developed into a National Museum, National Monument and World Heritage Site, which could become a cultural and conservation showcase for the new South African Democracy..." On 1 January 1997 the Robben Island Museum opened its doors to the public. In the month of December 1999 Robben Island was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under criteria (iii) and (vi) of the "World Heritage Conventions Operational Guidelines" .