A Ceasefire agreement regulates a cessation of hostilities for a defined period of time in an area. Ceasefire agreements can be declared unilaterally by one party to a conflict or they can be negotiated between parties to a conflict, often with the involvement of third parties that can monitor the agreement and provide security. The agreement can include specific steps that are required of the parties to implement the ceasefire, such as disengagement of forces or verification of information and data related to the military activities of the parties. Ceasefire agreements can also include specific provisions that govern violations of the agreement, including those that authorize a response to such violations, as well as specific procedures that allow for resumption of hostilities after a serious violation.
Ceasefires often generate momentum for peace, even in cases where they do not lead to a final agreement that puts an end to the conflict. They can also create new domestic political coalitions that are committed to maintaining the ceasefire and shift broader institutional interests in addressing protracted social conflict. In addition, they can be accompanied by the introduction of international peacekeeping missions that have an interest in the sustainability of the agreement and can generate a buffer between adversaries that helps to mitigate anxieties and reduce the risk of renewed violence. They can also involve ad hoc provisions that address the particular ceasefire needs of the conflict in question, such as return of conflict-related prisoners or refugees; re-establishment of State administration; demobilization, disarmament, and demilitarization; prosecution of war criminals and amnesties; and humanitarian assistance.
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