photo courtesy of civicworldwide.org

CIVIC, a group that looks at civilians that are victims of war, is collaborating with Women to Women International for today’s International Women’s Day. They urge supporters to take the pledge to end violence against women during conflict. They are also urging students to take action by providing a guide to being young activists on their student page.

In 2001, Maria Ruzicka traveled to Afghanistan to aid war victims. While visiting Afghan hospitals and refugee camps in Pakistan, she noticed that none of the governments were taking into account the civilians caught up in the conflict.

She began surveying Afghan citizens and took her findings to Washington. She relayed stories of people killed or injured when a U.S. bomb was dropped in the wrong place and no one was taking responsibility in helping them.

When the war in Iraq broke out in 2003, she moved to Baghdad and founded the Campaign for Innocent Victims of Conflict (CIVIC). With the help of Senator Patrick Leahy, the organization would be the first-ever geared towards helping civilians harmed by US operations.

In 2005, Ruzicka was killed in a suicide bomb in Baghdad. Her colleagues and friends continue her work, honoring her legacy to help those affected by war.

Active all over the world, CIVIC workers travel to war-torn countries to personally talk with victims. They produce annual reports to influence US policy and spread the word about the human effect of war.

March 8, 2010 by Stefani
Tags: Afghanistan, b-listed, breakthrough, Campaign for Innocent Victims of Conflict, CIVIC, International Women's Day, Maria Ruzicka, violence against women, war, Women to Women International