Human security provisions in ceasefire and peace agreements:case studies from Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia

This publication explores how human security (HS) provisions are integrated into ceasefire and peace agreements across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. It responds to a growing recognition that sustainable peace requires more than just stopping violence — it must also address the everyday needs of civilians affected by conflict. It introduces the Human Security Index (HSI), a tool that evaluates the inclusion of seven HS dimensions: economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community, and political security. By applying this index across nine case studies — from the Russia-Ukraine war to conflicts in Abkhazia, Transnistria, and the Tajik-Kyrgyz border — the report assesses the degree to which peace and ceasefire agreements reflect a human-centred approach. It finds that while some agreements include provisions for personal, political, and community security, others neglect vital areas like food, health, and environmental security. Peace agreements are generally more inclusive of HS than ceasefires, which often focus narrowly on halting hostilities. Multilateral agreements, especially those with international mediation, tend to score higher in HS integration. The report also distinguishes between short-term ceasefires and long-term peace agreements, highlighting the importance of sequencing and context.