Ceasefire agreement
A ceasefire is a period of time in an armed conflict when military activity stops. It may be unilateral or negotiated between the belligerents themselves. A ceasefire does not necessarily indicate that a conflict is over and may be replaced by another period of violence.
It can be difficult to mediate and implement a successful ceasefire, particularly in the case of intrastate conflicts where the parties do not have a clear common understanding of the terms of the agreement. Ceasefires often involve a complex set of considerations, including military, security and political issues as well as humanitarian aspects.
Often, a critical aspect of the negotiation of a ceasefire is establishing the physical separation of forces. This is usually achieved through the delineation of ceasefire lines or buffer zones that are monitored by international peacekeeping forces. The inclusion of precise and detailed language in a ceasefire can help to reduce the scope for tactical ‘mistakes’ that could lead to escalated fighting, despite the broader intentions of the peacekeeping mission.
As the first-of-its-kind globally, the 2022 DPPA Guidance on Mediation of Ceasefires provides mediators with a toolkit to help them assess the implications of various ceasefire provisions and design a framework for a sustainable ceasefire agreement that can be adapted to any context. The Guidance has been largely informed by the Organization’s rich institutional experience in supporting ceasefires. It will be reviewed and updated periodically to take into account new learning and good practices.