Homs Ceasefire

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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 ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )
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.

Agreement document
SY_151207_Homs Ceasefire_EN.pdf | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language)
SY_151207_Homs Ceasefire_AR.pdf | Download PDF

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

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.