A Legacy of Protecting Civilians

CIVIC was founded in 2003 by humanitarian advocate Marla Ruzicka during the early months of the Iraq War. At a time when civilian casualties were often overlooked, she believed that every civilian harmed by conflict deserved to be recognized, protected, and treated with dignity.

Originally established as the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict, the organization was built on a simple but powerful conviction: civilian harm in war is not inevitable – it should be prevented, minimized and addressed. CIVIC was created to ensure civilians harmed in conflict are recognized and never treated as invisible consequences of war.

Working in Afghanistan and Iraq, Marla documented civilian casualties that frequently went unrecorded and brought the experiences of affected families directly to US policymakers and military leaders. Her advocacy helped lay the foundation for some of the first US-funded programs providing assistance to civilians harmed by war, demonstrating that governments could—and should—take responsibility for the impact of military operations on civilian lives.

In 2005, while continuing her work alongside Iraqi civilians, Marla was killed in Baghdad. Her vision, courage, and unwavering commitment continue to inspire CIVIC’s mission.

Over the past two decades, CIVIC has grown into a global leader in the protection of civilians. Today, we work across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and global policy forums, engaging communities, governments, armed actors, and multilateral institutions to strengthen civilian protection and reduce civilian harm in armed conflict.

While the nature of conflict has evolved, the principle that inspired our founding remains unchanged: civilian harm is not inevitable. Every day, CIVIC works to turn that belief into practical action that helps protect civilians where they are most at risk.

To learn more about Marla Ruzicka’s life and enduring legacy, listen to NPR’s Home/Front episodes, “Marla’s War.” and “Marla’s List.”