IPI and the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) cohosted the official launch of DPPA’s Guidance on Mediation of Ceasefires on September 14th.

While every ceasefire mediation is unique, DPPA’s Guidance on Mediation of Ceasefires presents a set of tools and approaches to strengthen agreements to support a more sustainable peace process in any setting. Its goal is to provide a baseline of technical knowledge to UN and other mediators, conflict parties, and other stakeholders in contemporary mediation processes, such as representatives of states and regional organizations, national and international nongovernmental organizations, and women’s groups.

At the launch event, discussants elaborated on the technical considerations that affect ceasefire mediation processes and the new challenges posed in conflict settings around the world. Speakers considered the increasing range of stakeholders, such as civil society groups and political players, that are involved in effective ceasefire agreements. “One major revelation…is that ceasefires are not about standstills—it’s not about silencing the guns, it is about building a complex and resilient arrangement,” said Nicholas Haysom.  

Other key takeaways included the significance of stakeholder mapping and “doing your homework,” the continued need for inclusivity and respect, and the importance of disseminating the Guidance across UN agencies and other key actors. 

As the geopolitical landscape evolves, the Guidance is a continuous, living project. DPPA’s Guidance on Mediation of Ceasefires can be read in full here.

Welcome Remarks:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, IPI President and Chief Executive Officer
Asif Khan, Chief of Mediation Support Unit, UN DPPA

Speakers:
Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
Karin Landgren, Executive Director of Security Council Report and former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal, Burundi, and Liberia
Jeffrey Mapendere, Chief Security Arrangements Advisor of Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), South Sudan

Moderator:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, IPI President and Chief Executive Officer