A peace agreement is an official written document that outlines the terms of a settlement between warring parties. They are typically used to end a violent conflict and to provide the foundation for building stable societies after a war is over. They often include key elements such as ceasefire terms, territorial arrangements, and political frameworks.
The success of these agreements often depends on how well they are designed and implemented. Effective agreements that address the root causes of conflict, include mechanisms for enforcement and promote inclusive governance tend to lead to more stable societies. In contrast, agreements that leave critical grievances unaddressed or are poorly managed may fail and lead to renewed violence.
While peace agreements do not have as their function the termination of a state of war in the formal sense, there are some important differences between them and traditional peace treaties. For example, peace treaties have as their scope the prevention of hostile acts between States, whereas non-state actors are not prohibited from engaging in hostile acts against States.
Furthermore, in any protracted violent conflict, transgressions of justice are inevitable. Consequently, peace agreements must be structured to acknowledge these and, in most cases, to address them. Jill Freeman explains the importance of including provisions on addressing injustice in the structure of peace agreements. In addition, peace agreements often contain prohibitions against supporting hostile actions or armed groups. These have a broad territorial scope and can extend to both state and non-state armed groups, or even to individuals engaged in violent activities in their home territory.