Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum Report — Of Stuffed ballots and Empty Stomachs The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (also known as the “Human Rights Forum”) is a coalition comprising 17 member organisations. It has been in existence since January 1998 when nongovernmental 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 well being. The Human Rights Forum operates a Legal Unit and a Research and Documentation Unit. Member organisations of the Human Forum are: The Amani Trust Amnesty International (Zimbabwe) (AI (Z) The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT) The Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) Non – Violent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC) Transparency International (Zimbabwe) (TI (Z) The University of Zimbabwe Legal Aid Clinic (UZ (LAAS) Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and the Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO) Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET) Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) The Human Rights Forum can be contacted through any member organisation or the following personnel: The Executive Director, P.O Box 9077, Harare – email: admin@hrforum.co.zw The Research Unit, P.O Box 9077, Harare – email: research@hrforum.co.zw Telephone: 263 – 4- 250511/ 772860 Fax: 263 –4 250494 The International Liaison Office, Development House, 56 –64 Leonard Street London EC2A 4JX Email: IntLO@hrforumzim.com Telephone: +44 (0) 20 –7065 0945 Website: www.hrforumzim.com All earlier reports can be found on the website. 2

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