[[File:Logo-dark-small-1.png|thumb|Center for Civilians in Conflict Logo]] Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is a Washington, D.C.–based non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that works with political and community actors to mitigate civilian harm during conflict. CIVIC was founded initially in 2003 by Marla Ruzicka as the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict, later renamed to focus their work on civilians. CIVIC is a part of the Making Amends Campaign. CIVIC's mission statement reads: "Our mission is to work with armed actors and civilians in conflict to develop and implement solutions to prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian harm." CIVIC is headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in The Hague and Geneva. It maintains regional offices in New York, Nigeria, Yemen, and Ukraine. The organization previously maintained offices in Afghanistan and Iraq, where it conducted extensive programming before closing operations in those countries. CIVIC continued to grow and received funding from US Government sources, among others dedicated to helping rebuild the lives of civilians unintentionally harmed by US combat operations. and the organization expanded its mandate in early 2007 beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. CIVIC achievements include persuading US Congress to develop programs that aid victims caught in the middle of widespread conflict.
In 2012, CIVIC rebranded from Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict to its current name of the Center for Civilians in Conflict to ensure that they are being inclusive of all civilians.
Beginning with recognition, CIVIC works to create spaces for civilians and advocates to discuss and identify their rights, specifically in cases where those rights have been violated. CIVIC also works to empower communities to publicly acknowledge the harm that has taken place.
CIVIC utilizes a hands-on model to "document what civilians have been through" through a series of interviews and canvassing in an effort to demonstrate the needs that are not being met at the time. It was based on a United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan report that estimated a 40% increase in the number of civilian deaths in 2008. CIVIC's report concludes that civilian harm is compounded by widespread poverty and that while the Pakistani government does make amends most do not receive any due to deficiencies in compensation mechanisms and no effort from the US. CIVICs reports suggest that the number of civilians killed and injured in war conflicts exceeds the number that the United States admits to.
Accomplishments
In Afghanistan, CIVIC's research in Afghanistan and advocacy in Brussels directly led to NATO approving its first amends policy for Afghan war victims. CIVIC's advocacy in 2008-2009 led directly to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command emphasis on civilian harm mitigation and a significant shift in tactics to avoid civilian harm. According to UN reports, pro-government elements, (which includes ISAF and Afghan forces) accounted for 39% of civilian deaths in 2008. By 2010 that percentage dropped to 15%, and declined further by 2013 to 11%.[https://civiliansinconflict.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Backgrounder-US_Condolence_Payments_2010.pdf]
In 2016, CIVIC conducted a six-month research project on the capabilities, gaps, and potential for civilian protection in the Ukrainian military and Ministry of Defense.
The Strategic Plan states that CIVIC will expand its work with four main stakeholders: communities, Multinational bodies and coalitions, Governments and armed actors, and civil society. CIVIC will also be focused on the following three priorities: addressing impacted "urban warfare", "prioritizing protection in security force assistance and partnerships", and "developing new tools and approaches to assess and respond to civilian harm".