About the Conference
On 1 October 2026, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) organised an international conference in Paris, France, titled “Beyond Inscription: The Future of Sites of Memory”, which focused on the future of UNESCO World Heritage sites connected with funerary heritage and the memory of the First World War on the Western Front. The Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), represented by ASCE President Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, was among the participating organisations.
The conference addressed several key themes central to ASCE’s core mission, including the preservation of cemeteries and memorial sites as places of memory and cultural heritage, sustainable landscape management, visitor experience, education, interpretation, and the role of such sites in promoting remembrance, dialogue, and peace.
You can read the full official event announcement and topic outline HERE.
Opportunities for Cooperation
During the event, ASCE President Lidija Pliberšek met with representatives of the CWGC to discuss opportunities for closer cooperation. Both organizations share a strong interest in the long-term preservation, management, and interpretation of cemetery and memorial heritage, as well as in education, sustainability, and the exchange of professional knowledge and best practices.
For ASCE, closer cooperation with the CWGC is particularly valuable due to the Commission’s extensive international experience in the conservation and management of memorial sites. In turn, ASCE contributes to a broad European network of significant cemeteries, cities, and professionals.
Such a connection could strengthen the exchange of expertise, support joint educational and heritage initiatives and create a basis for a more structured form of cooperation in the future.
Event Photos
Group photo, from left to right:
- Barry Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC);
- Lidija Pliberšek, President of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE);
- Charles Garrett, Director of Global Strategy & International Relations, Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC);
- Xavier Puppinck, Area Director – Central and Southern Europe Area, Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
