Civil Society’s Role in Monitoring and Verifying Peace Agreements: Seven Lessons from International Experiences

Effective monitoring and verification increases the durability of peace agreements by addressing commitment problems inherent in peace processes. It is a feature of most ceasefire agreements and thematic peace agreements. Monitoring refers to the technical process of collecting information on the basis of which a verification judgment is to be made. Verification is the process of using monitoring information to evaluate compliance with an agreement.
The inclusion of civil society in monitoring and verification has so far been limited. With some notable exceptions, the full capacities of civil society organizations have not been embraced by policy makers or negotiation parties. However, the examples of civil society inclusion in monitoring and verification identified in this report show that civil society has much to offer, particularly in the monitoring of intra-state peace agreements. Civil society monitors may offer local knowledge, access to communities, as well as a capacity and expertise in monitoring. Civil society may also contribute to the legitimacy of monitoring and verification through a credibility stemming from their status as non-partisan or bipartisan.
Based on experiences from different peace processes, this report’s aim is threefold. First, it provides an introduction to the purpose of monitoring and verification of peace agreements. Second, it presents the different modalities of how civil society has participated in the monitoring and verification of peace agreements: (1) Official monitoring bodies required to consult with civil society; (2) Civil society organizations or groups of organizations conducting independent monitoring and verification; (3) Inclusive commissions with civil society representatives; (4) Civil society participation in international monitoring mission, drawing upon examples. Third, it analyses opportunities and challenges, and presents seven lessons for the effective contribution of Civil Society (CS) to monitoring and verification of peace agreements.