Homs Ceasefire

Country/entity
Syria
Region
Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name
Homs Ceasefire
Date
4 Dec 2015
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Government
Peace process
Intra-Syrian Process (state/non-state)
Parties
Government
Deeb Zaytūn, head of the Syrian Intelligence
Talāl al-Barāzī, Governor of Homs

Rebel Groups
Faylaq al-Shām: Āhrār al-Shām and Katā’ib al-Jihād al-Islāmī
[participants not noted in agreement]
Third parties
International Observers
Yaqoub al-Helo, the representative of the United Nations Development Program in Syria
Khoula Matar, head of UN and Arab League Envoy to Syria Staffan De Mistura's political office.
Description
A short truce for the city of Homs allowing for the withdrawal of non-state militants, disarmament, relocation of civilians and past provisions for victims.


Groups

Children/youth

No specific mention.

Disabled persons

No specific mention.

Elderly/age

No specific mention.

Migrant workers

No specific mention.

Racial/ethnic/national group

No specific mention.

Religious groups

No specific mention.

Indigenous people

No specific mention.

Other groups

No specific mention.

Refugees/displaced persons
Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 1, Second Phase:
4. Civilians who left or were displaced shall return to the neighbourhood.
Social class

No specific mention.


Gender

Women, girls and gender

No specific mention.

Men and boys

No specific mention.

LGBTI

No specific mention.

Family

No specific mention.


State definition

Nature of state (general)

No specific mention.

State configuration

No specific mention.

Self determination

No specific mention.

Referendum

No specific mention.

State symbols

No specific mention.

Independence/secession

No specific mention.

Accession/unification

No specific mention.

Border delimitation

No specific mention.

Cross-border provision

No specific mention.


Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed)

No specific mention.

Elections

No specific mention.

Electoral commission

No specific mention.

Political parties reform

No specific mention.

Civil society
Page 1, First Phase:
4. Humanitarian organisations will be permitted to do their work
Traditional/religious leaders

No specific mention.

Public administration

No specific mention.

Constitution

No specific mention.


Power sharing

Political power sharing

No specific mention.

Territorial power sharing

No specific mention.

Economic power sharing

No specific mention.

Military power sharing

No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general

No specific mention.

Bill of rights/similar

No specific mention.

Treaty incorporation

No specific mention.

Civil and political rights

No specific mention.

Socio-economic rights

No specific mention.


Rights related issues

Citizenship

No specific mention.

Democracy

No specific mention.

Detention procedures

No specific mention.

Media and communication

No specific mention.

Mobility/access

No specific mention.

Protection measures
Rights related issues→Protection measures→Other
Page 1, Second Phase:
1. The roads leading to general services (the Post Office, and the Directorate of Environmental Affairs) and the government roundabouts ([the roundabouts including] the station, the Judicial Palace and the blood bank, etc.) will be opened. The protection of roads will be undertaken by a limited number of men from the intelligence services and the police for the specified duration exclusively. The police and intelligence services will be responsible for the operation of these services, whereon this will be discussed with the Central Negotiation Commission.
Other

No specific mention.


Rights institutions

NHRI

No specific mention.

Regional or international human rights institutions

No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law

No specific mention.

State of emergency provisions

No specific mention.

Judiciary and courts
Page 1, Second Phase:
5. Release of those who have been arrested, except for convicts or those referred to court, and of those kidnapped on both sides.
Prisons and detention

No specific mention.

Traditional Laws

No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction
Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 1, First Phase:
4. Humanitarian organisations will be permitted to do their work
National economic plan

No specific mention.

Natural resources

No specific mention.

International funds

No specific mention.

Business

No specific mention.

Taxation

No specific mention.

Banks

No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights

No specific mention.

Pastoralist/nomadism rights

No specific mention.

Cultural heritage

No specific mention.

Environment
Page 1, Second Phase:
2. The roads leading to general services (the Post Office, and the Directorate of Environmental Affairs) and the government roundabouts ([the roundabouts including] the station, the Judicial Palace and the blood bank, etc.) will be opened. The protection of roads will be undertaken by a limited number of men from the intelligence services and the police for the specified duration exclusively. The police and intelligence services will be responsible for the operation of these services, whereon this will be discussed with the Central Negotiation Commission.
Water or riparian rights or access

No specific mention.


Security sector

Security Guarantees
Page 2, Third Phase:
At the end of these terms, the situation of the areas of Jazīrah al-Siba’ah and al-Basatīn will be assessed in a meeting between the two sides.
Ceasefire
Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, First Phase:
1. A full ceasefire for a period of ten days from the date of signing the agreement.
2. Expulsion [from the talks] of those who contravene or breach this agreement
... 5. The ‘Diwār Muhandisīn’ Road connecting the al-Wa’ir neighbourhood and the city will be opened for pedestrians only. [Government] Security forces will establish a checkpoint. Those wishing to relocate outside the neighbourhood will be allowed to return to settle their affaires in the office located beside the checkpoint. Those needing to settle [further] issues are to be taken to the [city] centre.


Page 1, At the end of the first phase, the actions taken will be evaluated to avoid negative repercussions. The undertaking of phase one is also limited to 25 days, and on the condition that no article will be implemented unless article one is upheld.
Police
Page 1, Second Phase:
1. The roads leading to general services (the Post Office, and the Directorate of Environmental Affairs) and the government roundabouts ([the roundabouts including] the station, the Judicial Palace and the blood bank, etc.) will be opened. The protection of roads will be undertaken by a limited number of men from the intelligence services and the police for the specified duration exclusively. The police and intelligence services will be responsible for the operation of these services, whereon this will be discussed with the Central Negotiation Commission.
Armed forces

No specific mention.

DDR
Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 1, First Phase:
... 3. Presentation of a list of medium and heavy weapons, which are to be surrendered during the second phase.

Page 1, Second Phase:
1. All medium and heavy weaponry is to be gathered by the Joint Commission consisting of the Neighbourhood and Regime Committees. The weapons will remain in storage facilities within the neighbourhood (in the al-Barr Hospital). These arms will be barred from use and under the supervision of the Joint Commission.

Page 1, Second Phase:
3. A plan will be presented that includes mine disposal within the neighbourhood, except the area of al-Jazīrah al-Siba’ah.
6. Medium and heavy weapons located in the al-Barr Hospital will be handed over to the regime.
Intelligence services
Page 1, Second Phase:
1. The roads leading to general services (the Post Office, and the Directorate of Environmental Affairs) and the government roundabouts ([the roundabouts including] the station, the Judicial Palace and the blood bank, etc.) will be opened. The protection of roads will be undertaken by a limited number of men from the intelligence services and the police for the specified duration exclusively. The police and intelligence services will be responsible for the operation of these services, whereon this will be discussed with the Central Negotiation Commission.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces

No specific mention.

Withdrawal of foreign forces

No specific mention.

Corruption

No specific mention.

Crime/organised crime

No specific mention.

Drugs

No specific mention.

Terrorism

No specific mention.


Transitional justice

Transitional justice general

No specific mention.

Amnesty/pardon

No specific mention.

Courts

No specific mention.

Mechanism

No specific mention.

Prisoner release
First Phase:
... 6. The Neighbourhood Committee shall prepare lists of those missing, kidnapped, or of unknown fate, and will thereby work to determine their fates. In addition, a list of names shall be prepared to include those arrested and facing prison sentences by the regime, [who will later] be released upon surrendering medium and heavy weaponry in the second phase.

Page 1, Second Phase:
5. Release of those who have been arrested, except for convicts or those referred to court, and of those kidnapped on both sides.
Vetting

No specific mention.

Victims

No specific mention.

Missing persons
First Phase:
... 6. The Neighbourhood Committee shall prepare lists of those missing, kidnapped, or of unknown fate, and will thereby work to determine their fates. In addition, a list of names shall be prepared to include those arrested and facing prison sentences by the regime, [who will later] be released upon surrendering medium and heavy weaponry in the second phase.
Reparations

No specific mention.

Reconciliation

No specific mention.


Implementation

UN signatory
International Observers
Yaqoub al-Helo, the representative of the United Nations Development Program in Syria [signatory status unknown.]
Khoula Matar, head of UN and Arab League Envoy to Syria Staffan De Mistura's political office. [signatory status unknown.]
Other international signatory

No specific mention.

Referendum for agreement

No specific mention.

International mission/force/similar

No specific mention.

Enforcement mechanism

No specific mention.

Related cases

No specific mention.

Source
Source: ‘Al-Arabi al-Jadeed publishes the truce agreement for al-Wa’er neighbourhood in Homs’, al-Araby, 4 December 2015, https://www.alaraby.co.uk/politics/2015/12/3/العربي-الجديد-ينشر-اتفاق-هدنة-حي-الوعر-في-حمص

Source agreement

Homs Ceasefire

December 4, 2015

First Phase:

1. A full ceasefire for a period of ten days from the date of signing the agreement.

2. Expulsion [from the talks] of those who contravene or breach this agreement

3. Presentation of a list of medium and heavy weapons, which are to be surrendered during the second phase.

4. Humanitarian organisations will be permitted to do their work

5. The ‘Diwār Muhandisīn’ Road connecting the al-Wa’ir neighbourhood and the city will be opened for pedestrians only. [

Government] Security forces will establish a checkpoint.

Those wishing to relocate outside the neighbourhood will be allowed to return to settle their affaires in the office located beside the checkpoint.

Those needing to settle [further] issues are to be taken to the [city] centre.

6. The Neighbourhood Committee shall prepare lists of those missing, kidnapped, or of unknown fate, and will thereby work to determine their fates.

In addition, a list of names shall be prepared to include those arrested and facing prison sentences by the regime, [who will later] be released upon surrendering medium and heavy weaponry in the second phase.

At the end of the first phase, the actions taken will be evaluated to avoid negative repercussions.

The undertaking of phase one is also limited to 25 days, and on the condition that no article will be implemented unless article one is upheld.

Second Phase:

1. All medium and heavy weaponry is to be gathered by the Joint Commission consisting of the Neighbourhood and Regime Committees.

The weapons will remain in storage facilities within the neighbourhood (in the al-Barr Hospital).

These arms will be barred from use and under the supervision of the Joint Commission.

2. The roads leading to general services (the Post Office, and the Directorate of Environmental Affairs) and the government roundabouts ([the roundabouts including] the station, the Judicial Palace and the blood bank, etc.)

will be opened.

The protection of roads will be undertaken by a limited number of men from the intelligence services and the police for the specified duration exclusively.

The police and intelligence services will be responsible for the operation of these services, whereon this will be discussed with the Central Negotiation Commission.

3. A plan will be presented that includes mine disposal within the neighbourhood, except the area of al-Jazīrah al-Siba’ah.

4. Civilians who left or were displaced shall return to the neighbourhood.

5. Release of those who have been arrested, except for convicts or those referred to court, and of those kidnapped on both sides.

6. Medium and heavy weapons located in the al-Barr Hospital will be handed over to the regime.

7. The implementation of this phase will take between 15 and 25 days.

Third Phase:

At the end of these terms, the situation of the areas of Jazīrah al-Siba’ah and al-Basatīn will be assessed in a meeting between the two sides.

[End of the Agreement]

Participants [From third party media, not stated in online document]

Government

Deeb Zaytūn, head of the Syrian Intelligence

Talāl al-Barāzī, Governor of Homs

Rebel Groups

Faylaq al-Shām:

Āhrār al-Shām and Katā’ib al-Jihād al-Islāmī

International Observers

Yaqoub al-Helo, the representative of the United Nations Development Program in Syria

Khoula Matar, head of UN and Arab League Envoy to Syria Staffan De Mistura's political office.