ABOUT THE FORUM The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum), was established 20 years ago in 1998. The Forum came into existence following the State’s repressive response to the 1998 Food Riots. From an initial membership of eight (8) human rights organisations in Zimbabwe, the Forum has grown from strength to strength to 22 human rights organisations working in areas of women’s rights, children’s rights, youths, LGBT rights, prisoners’ rights, freedom of expression and of the media, anticorruption, good governance, peace-building, and non-violent ways of conflict resolution. In addition to its membership, the Forum liaises closely with partner organisations. Our partnerships are reaching beyond the borders of Zimbabwe. We have partners with institutions that range from citizen initiatives, informal traders, government entities, development partners, student movements, UN bodies and academic institutions. These are a testimony of our work beyond just us. Our products have received international recognition and been listed by credible academic i n s t i t u t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g S t a n f o rd University, among many others. leadership and coordination on the human rights agenda in Zimbabwe. Projects of the Forum are implemented through three main units namely the: Ÿ Transitional Justice Unit (TJ) Ÿ Public Interest Unit (PIU) Ÿ Research and Documentation Unit (RU) In addition, the Forum is the Secretariat of the National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG), which is a platform established by forty-six Zimbabwean transitional justice stakeholders to provide the interface between the stakeholders and the official transitional justice authorities in Zimbabwe. The Forum also continues to play a pivotal role in regional networks such as the Coalition for an Effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court Coalition), and the Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN), where it is a focal point. The Forum has also ensured that the human rights situation in Zimbabwe remains on the local, regional and international agenda through participation at foras such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the UPR. Its programming evolves around four major focus areas which are: Ÿ Monitoring, Research & Documentation Ÿ Litigation Ÿ Transitional Justice Advocacy Ÿ Lobby and Advocacy (at national, regional and international levels). Working with and through its members, the Forum produces analytical and/or factual reports on political violence and topical human rights issues; documents incidences of political violence; litigates The vision of the Forum is a society, which promotes and protects the rights of all people. Its mission is to provide 6 ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO FORUM ANNUAL REPORT 2017