CIVIC: Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict

A BETTER, SMARTER, MORE COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE FOR WAR VICTIMS… ALL OVER THE WORLD

 

CIVIC urges warring parties help the civilians they’ve harmed in conflicts around the world. That means recognizing the suffering of war victims and making amends for their losses, whether through compensation, funding humanitarian programs or other dignifying efforts. CIVIC is the only organization with this goal as its sole focus. For warring parties to recognize and dignify civilian suffering in war is the right thing to do. It’s also a smart strategy to foster healing, stability and, often, goodwill. CIVIC is successfully shifting the policies of warring parties so that war victims see a better, smarter, more compassionate response to their suffering.

Real help for war victims…

CIVIC, with U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D – VT), helped create US-funded programs to aid war victims. The Leahy Initiative in Afghanistan and the Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund in Iraq have been remarkable successes, helping families harmed by US combat forces rebuild their lives, homes, and businesses. CIVIC makes sure these programs have the funding they need to assist as many war victims as possible. In that way, we help not just one war victim but many thousands. We’ve also helped train Marla Fund staff, improved guidelines for the programs, and use them as a model for dignifying civilian harm in other places of conflict.

Calling on NATO to take responsibility for civilian harm…

CIVIC is working within NATO to develop a way for member states to make appropriate amends to Afghans inadvertently harmed by ISAF (NATO’s combined military force).  NATO responded to the call with a humanitarian assistance fund, and is now considering a uniform method of compensating civilians.  Many NATO countries are consulting with CIVIC about ways to better support the Afghan population, particularly those suffering losses. 

Dignifying suffering with tangible assistance…

CIVIC is leading the charge to improve “compensation” systems for civilians unintentionally harmed, particularly by US combat operations. As one example, CIVIC helped develop the Civilian Assistance Act – legislation set to be introduced in the US Senate this year. If adopted, it will ensure that whenever the US engages in conflict, civilians harmed by its operations can receive fair, just, equitable compensation for their losses. Click here to read more and join the effort.

Conflicts around the world…

CIVIC presses warring parties to recognize civilians harmed, to make amends for their suffering and to never forget that these are human lives. For example: In places like Nepal, where a peace-building process is under way, CIVIC is working to ensure the best interests of war victims are made a top priority. We work with civil society leaders, non-profit organizations, humanitarians, government officials, the warring parties and survivors themselves to assess what we can do to ensure a better outcome for ordinary people devastated in war.