CIVIC: Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict

AN EMERGING PRACTICE IN WAR

Civilian suffering in war is as old as human history itself. Most survivors are left to pick up the pieces of their lives with little help.

CIVIC believes that no civilian harmed in war should be left with nothing. Put simply, parties to conflict should dignify losses by recognizing and offering assistance to individuals and communities devastated by bullets and bombs.

THE PROBLEM...

Since the introduction of laws to protect and avoid civilians in the last century, countless lives have been saved. Yet within those same rules governing war, there is no expectation that warring parties will recognize or provide assistance to the civilians that get caught up in the fighting. No matter the deaths, injuries, or homes destroyed, a warring party can walk away. Often, they do.

THE SOLUTION...

Although there is no expectation to do so, warring parties are beginning to realize the importance of dignifying the losses of civilians lawfully harmed by their combat operations. For example, the US offers monetary assistance and long-term livelihood aid to civilian survivors of their combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the Philippines, national legislation is pending to provide compensation for "civilians caught in the crossfire between rebels and the military." In Georgia, the government is providing durable housing solutions to civilians displaced in the August 2008 clash with Russia.

We call these dignifying gestures and offers of assistance “making amends.” This is an emerging practice we’d like to see continue and expand.

To fuel these efforts and urge more warring parties to help where they’ve harmed, CIVIC has created the Making Amends Campaign. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to ensure that civilians caught in war get the help they deserve, everywhere, every time.

Keep checking back for more information on the official launch of the Campaign.