Geneva—Oct. 21,2025— Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) released today the second edition of its annual flagship report, the Protection of Civilians Trends Report and Civilian Protection Index, which documents the experiences of civilians living through conflict and extreme violence in 2024.
The report reveals a continued and alarming deterioration in the global protection environment.
By nearly every measure or issue we considered, civilians fared worse in 2024 than2023,” said Lauren Spink, CIVIC’s Senior Research Advisor and lead on the project.“Civilian casualties, sexual violence, forced displacement, attacks on children and healthcare all increased in 2024, leaving civilians in many countries in desperate situations.
Drawing on data, expert analysis, and civil society perspectives, the report sheds light on the ways civilians have been affected not only by direct attacks, but also the reverberating effects of conflict, such as loss of access to school for children and livelihoods for adults.
Civilians are facing growing and intersecting threats—from the expanded use of drones and automated weapons systems without adequate safeguards to the spread of disinformation and the effects of climate change, said Spink. “States and international organizations must act now to adapt their policies and tools to these evolving realities.”
The Civilian Protection Index, developed in collaboration with the Institute for Economics andPeace, assesses protection conditions across 163 countries using 15 indicators. These include measures of direct violence—such as civilian casualties and sexual violence—alongside other elements of a protective environment, such as trust in security forces and the quality of civic space.
CIVIC’s Executive Director, Hichem Khadhraoui, underscored the urgency of the findings: “This report is both a warning and a call to action,” said Khadhraoui.“The data shows civilians are bearing the brunt of today’s conflicts, but it also highlights where change is possible. States, armed actors, and international partners must recommit to protecting civilians—not in words, but through practical, sustained action.”
The report and index not only identify global trends but also provide a road map for reversing them, outlining steps that states and international organizations can take to strengthen protection norms, reduce civilian harm, and support locally led protection efforts.
Finally, the report features spotlight articles on successful community-based protection initiatives and military efforts to operationalize protection, showing how effective strategies can save lives even in the most challenging environments.
Read the full report: www.civilianprotectiontrends.org
Read the Executive Summary and Roadmap
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international humanitarian NGO dedicated to protecting civilians in conflict. We work with affected communities, armed actors, and decision makers to prevent and respond to harm to civilians and make their protection a global priority.
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact:
Hajer Naili, Director of Communications, [email protected], +1 917 889 5982( WhatsApp)
CIVIC Communications: [email protected]
Spokespersons available for interviews in English, French, and Arabic
