Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) works with those engaged in and affected by armed conflict to identify, develop, and implement practical solutions that prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian harm.

One Man’s Journey to Make Peace with ISIS Families Returning to Mosul

Nearly six years after the liberation of Mosul from the Islamic State (IS), the horrors endured by the city’s residents remain engraved in ​​every woman, man, and child who lived through the atrocities having been affected by their ruthless violence.  As Saber*​​recounts​​ his​​ harrowing ordeal​​, he immediately reaches into his shirt pocket to retrieve his…

Nigeria Needs to Do More to Prevent & Respond to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

The 14-year long conflict in Northeast Nigeria and the deeply rooted gender-based inequalities have significantly contributed to exacerbating sexual violence in the country. While all genders are vulnerable to sexual violence, women and girls are more affected, especially those in conflict-affected areas.   Data from 2022 show that there has been an increase in recent…

Disinformation Harms Civilians in Conflict in More Ways Than You Thought

By Chris Brew & Lauren Spink The use of deception and disinformation in warfare is not new. Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and military strategist was already writing about the phenomenon in the 5th century BC. But disinformation—defined as the intentional dissemination of inaccurate or misleading information—no longer just travels by word-of-mouth or newspaper. Modern…

Protection des Civils au Niger: Enjeu de Taille des Réponses Sécuritaires

Auteur: West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Les conséquences de l’insécurité au Sahel, plus particulièrement au Niger, affectent de façon dramatique la vie des populations civiles, y compris leur moyens de subsistance et leur accès aux services sociaux de base. La cohésion sociale du pays est mise en péril tandis que les besoins humanitaires et…

MINUSMA’s Response Statement

MINUSMA appreciates that its continuous efforts to enhance its CASEVAC procedures to improve the safety and security of its personnel have been acknowledged in this research. This includes an examination of best practices beyond our own experience and an ongoing review of current procedures. This includes recently requesting an evaluation of our processes from specialists…

Amid Civilian Harm Revelations, Defense Bill Takes Measured Steps on Oversight and Accountability

By John Ramming Chappell and Ari Tolany Recent months have seen a flood of revelations concerning civilian harm resulting from U.S. military operations. The last U.S. airstrike of the war in Afghanistan, which killed ten civilians including an aid worker and seven children, was soon followed by news of U.S. operations in Syria targeting and endangering civilians. Reporting from The…