CWGC signs Commemoration Pact with Flanders

At the annual Flanders Remembers evening of remembrance in London, Flemish Minister of Immoveable Heritage, Ben Weyts joined forces with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to sign a pact to never forget the sacrifice of the frontline soldiers and always care for their graves and memorials.

Barry Murphy CWGC Acting Director General and Chief Operating Officer said: "We are delighted to have signed this landmark Partnership Agreement to protect and promote First World War cemeteries and memorials across Flanders."

"This follows the 2023 UNESCO World Heritage inscription of several sites, recognising their outstanding heritage value. The agreement formalises decades of joint collaboration and reaffirms our shared commitment to the preservation and care of our sites in Flanders - for remembrance, education and learning across all ages."

Barry added: "By working together, we will ensure these spaces will continue to serve as places of tribute, learning, and reflection; ensuring the legacy of those who fell in global conflict remains relevant for generations to come."

Minster Weyts welcomed the inscription as an important milestone that secures the legacy of these sacred spaces and reaffirms Flanders’ custodianship of key historical landmarks.

Through this recognition and the CWGC sites both parties commit to reminding the world of the human cost of conflict—past, present, and ongoing.