Zimbabwe!

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (also known as the "Human Rights Forum") has been in existence since January 1998. Non-governmental organisations working in the field of human rights came together to provide legal and psycho-social assistance to the victims of the Food Riots of January 1998.

The Human Rights Forum has now expanded its objectives to assist victims of organised violence, using the following definition:

"organised violence" means the interhuman infliction of significant avoidable pain and suffering by an organised group according to a declared or implied strategy and/or system of ideas and attitudes. It comprises any violent action which is unacceptable by general human standards, and relates to the victims� mental and physical wellbeing.

These objectives are set out in the constitution.

The Human Rights Forum has two operational units, the Public Interest Unit, the Research Unit, as well as the International Liaison Office, with administrative staff to support its operations.

There are currently sixteen members of the Human Rights Forum.

The Human Rights Forum produces regular reports on human rights violations in Zimbabwe. Its Public Interest Unit also provides free legal assistance to victims of organised violence and torture. The Human Rights Forum works in close collaboration with its member organisations to provide legal and psycho-social services to victims of organised violence and torture and to document all human rights violations, particularly politically motivated violence.