Ceasefire Overview

Ceasefire Overview

Dr. Greg Noone: Hello and welcome to the module on ceasefires and related security arrangements. My name is Dr. Greg Noone and I'm the Executive Director of the Public International Law and Policy Group and eager to present this module to you on ceasefires. For this module, we wanted to make a short introductory video to cover three key points as ceasefires can mean various things to different people.

In this video, I will discuss the module's objectives, possible problems around terminology and translation, and an overview of the module material and structure.

Objectives

Let's start now with the module's objectives. This section of the training program has been designed with four objectives in mind. First, to provide you with a solid understanding of how ceasefires and related security arrangements fit into the peace process.

Every peace process is unique and the most appropriate means of stopping violence is always dependent on several context specific factors. There is, however, also a common logic to the ceasefire process. In particular, with regards to how different types of agreements fit into the overall peace process. Upon finishing these videos, you will understand the logic of the ceasefire process and its relationship to the broader political negotiations. 

Secondly, we will provide you with an overview of the different types of agreements through which violence can be limited, managed, or stopped during intrastate conflict.

During conflict, there are lots of different types of agreements that conflict parties can use to stop fighting. Different agreements involve different actors, serve different functions, and are more likely to be appropriate at different stages in the peace process. If you understand the logic of the process and the role of different types of ceasefires, you will be better positioned to help contribute to a peace process. Upon finishing this module, you should be able to understand the different types of agreements as well as the strengths and challenges associated with each approach. 

Thirdly, we will provide you with a basic understanding of the different actors involved at different points of the ceasefire process. Ceasefires and related agreements can involve several different actors, including conflict parties, civil society, and international actors. Different actors perform different roles and bring with them different opportunities and challenges. Upon finishing these videos, you will understand the different roles available for different actors at different points in the peace process.

Finally, we will familiarize you with the key vocabulary needed to engage in technical discussions on ceasefires and related agreements. There are several types of ceasefires and related security agreements that each go by different names. The labels used for these agreements change across contexts.

Upon finishing these videos, you will understand the logic behind different types of agreements and the various names that these agreements can go by. So these are the four broad objectives of this module. We will reflect on these throughout the videos. 

Terminology

But for now, let's move on to discussing terminology and translations.

This series of videos is focused on agreements that attempt to limit or stop violence. These are most commonly referred to as ceasefires. However, there is no universally recognized definition of a ceasefire. As we detail in later videos, a ceasefire is often a very specific type of agreement that includes particular provisions.

At this time, a ceasefire is also a general umbrella term that is often used to describe a broad range of agreements between conflict parties to change the patterns of interaction by ending or taking a break from the use of violence. During the course, we will introduce several different agreements that all attempt to stop violence.

Some of these we will consider as different types of ceasefires. Others will be distinct but related agreements. We therefore use the term ceasefire to refer both to a specific type of agreement that involves particular provisions and more generally to refer to the broader category of agreements.

Unfortunately, complicating matters is that the names used to describe the different types of agreements often change across contexts. In different conflicts, different actors often choose different labels to refer to similar agreements, or alternatively, use the same labels to describe very different agreements.

This can get very confusing. A very similar agreement between conflict parties might be called a ceasefire in one context and a truce or humanitarian pause in another. Often politicians and the media, in particular, use the different terms interchangeably. The name used for an agreement will therefore always depend on the political context and the sensitivities associated with different terms in that context.

Another problem with vocabulary that we face in this course relates to translation. Most ceasefire vocabulary was developed in English, meaning there is not always a perfect translation. And sometimes, there can be different interpretations, different social, cultural, and religious traditions, as well as political connotations of different terms, which all impact the terms used in any context.

It is therefore important to keep in mind throughout this course that the names used to describe an arrangement might be different to those you are familiar with. It is therefore more important that you grasp the different stages of the process that these agreements represent, the different actors that are likely to be involved, the actual content of the agreements themselves, and the different functions that the agreements perform. And, keep in mind that the names might change in your context. 

Order of Videos

The order of videos broadly follows the logic of the peace process. In the last module, we had a video on conflict mitigation and management mechanisms. a collection of arrangements used by conflict parties to mitigate or manage conflict violence outside of the formal peace process. We focused specifically on conflict mitigation measures, restrictions on hostilities, truces, and battlefield management arrangements. We discuss what they are, why they are used, and how they relate to the peace process.

We are now focusing on ceasefires and related security arrangements more directly. A more formal collection of agreements that closely relate to the peace negotiations. We focus specifically on declarations of intent, humanitarian ceasefires, cessations of hostilities, preliminary ceasefires, and definitive ceasefires.

We discuss the different agreements sequentially, focusing on the least formal and specific agreements first, which tend to happen earlier in the political negotiations process, and progress to more detailed and verifiable agreements that tend to occur later in the political process when the parties are moving closer to a peace agreement.

We cover what the agreements are, what functions they perform, and how they contribute to a peace process. 

In this module, we also discuss ceasefire implementation. Once a ceasefire is agreed, there are several specific tasks that the conflict parties must always address.

We discuss the processes through which conflict parties manage a ceasefire, different systems of monitoring and verification, the provision of interim security, and how civilians and civil society will be involved in the process. Each video should be watched sequentially as they broadly follow the logic of the ceasefire process.

Please enjoy.