Data tracks conflict ceasefires in context of COVID-19
An online digital tracking tool was launched on 8 July to examine the consequences of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak on peace processes and armed conflict across the world.
Researchers assessed the progress of ceasefire agreements alongside live data on infection rates.
UN Security Council Resolution 2532, passed on 1 July, called for a global ceasefire to enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance during COVID-19.
The digital tool was developed by the University of Edinburgh’s Political Settlements Research Programme; the European Forum for international Mediation; the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO); Swiss research institute ETH Zurich; Conciliation Resources; and the United States Institute of Peace. The UN also added input via its Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
While there was an initial surge in ceasefire announcements, the tempo has slowed recently and in some cases hostilities resumed. For example, fighting in Yemen has continued, and the conflict in Libya has accelerated.
‘Ceasefires in civil war is a greatly under-researched area,’ said PRIO Director Henrik Urdal. ‘The Covid-19 Ceasefires Tracker allows us to identify and explore mechanisms related to humanitarian ceasefires, and to better understand the dynamic between belligerents.’
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons]()
Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons
The company told Shephard that Ukraine is operating modified Protector weapon stations originally supplied for armoured vehicles, with human operators authorising engagements from hundreds of kilometres away.
-
![UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour]()
UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour
A report from the Council on Geostrategy argues the UK should move away from a traditional balanced force and shift investment to naval, air and space capabilities, backed by a larger fleet of attack submarines and deeper AUKUS integration.
-
![Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era]()
Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era
At its technology summit in London, attended by Shephard, Thales UK examined the importance of speed to delivery, the growing focus on cross-domain capabilities and how procurement reform could be crucial for future battlefield advantage.
-
![Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain]()
Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.
