The Concept of Ceasefires
Historically, the concept of Ceasefires existed at least by the time of the Middle Ages, when it
was known as a ‘truce of God’. Ceasefires can be declared as a humanitarian gesture
Ceasefires are as old as armed conflict. The United Nations and its partners- Member States,
regional and sub-regional organizations, community leaders, non-governmental and local
entities – have all worked on and implemented ceasefire agreements. Unique and context-
specific, ceasefires defy a rigid template and instead follow a flexible set of technical, thematic
and political parameter
A ceasefire (or truce), also spelled cease fire (the antonym of ‘open fire’), is a temporary
stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions.
Ceasefire is an arrangement during armed conflict whereby at least one conflict party commits
to cease hostilities from a specific point in time.
The requirement that a conflict party commits to a cessation of battle-related violence from a
particular point in time distinguishes ceasefires from looser commitments to reduce or stop
violence at some point in the future.
Ceasefires also require some statement, either verbal or in writing, that commits an actor to
suspend violence. This differentiates ceasefires from less intentional breaks in the fighting. This
definition captures a variety of arrangements, ranging from loose, informal arrangements to
detailed formal documents
Ceasefires can be unilateral, bilateral or multilateral, they can commit parties to either a
temporary or permanent end to violence, and, they can have a variety of purposes.
In some cases, the link between a ceasefire and the broader political process is explicit, such as
a ceasefire during or in . In other cases, the link is implicit,support of political negotiations
such as for ceasefires called to . Even ceasefiresdemonstrate command over an armed force
that are seemingly disconnected from the political process, such as those initiated for
humanitarian purposes, can still produce anticipation effects and consequences that ripple
across peace and conflict processes. A ceasefire is a temporary cessation of violence that does
not settle the larger conflict but is intended as a step in that direction. It is one of the first and
necessary steps in a peace process aimed at transforming or settling a violent conflict.
Its declaration alters the political landscape by providing a cooling-off period that paves the
way for negotiation of issues that cannot be addressed during times of hostilities. Violence
breeds anxiety, fear, and enmity that generally preclude negotiation and any hopes for a
peaceful solution to underlying disputes. Instead, continued violence, with its associated
bloodshed, encourages each side to pursue unilateral strategies that seek to destroy one's
opponent outright or disable them as a viable force of social/organizational opposition
To overcome the polarizing effects of violence, there may be a mutual or unilateral ceasefire
declaration. However, unless there is strong political commitment and concerted leadership
towards an envisioned peaceful end, such declarations are fragile and likely to breakdown in the
first few months.
