Human Rights Forum Report: Who was responsible? Gender Profile of Victims 18 % Male Female 82% Date of Incident Incidents of political violence began as early as February 2000 prior to the referendum when it was still unclear when the election would be. In the two months prior to the election violence rose sharply, reaching a peak in May 2000. 40 35 % 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 February March April May June A note on organised violence and torture It is very important to understand that the cases reported below are not simply examples of electoral violence, but represent gross human rights violations. They involve extra-judicial killings, torture (both physical and psychological), disappearances, and cruel and inhuman treatment. Although we report the violations as crimes in the sense of the criminal law of Zimbabwe, they are also gross human rights violations in both human rights law and humanitarian law. Torture is the most common of the violations reported. We have separated assaults from torture, as this is the way that the victims gave their own testimony, but in virtually all cases the assaults would be classified as torture. We have also separated intimidation and property destruction as they are often reported as distinct from torture, but it must be borne in mind that these are also forms of psychological torture and conform to the general definition of torture given in the United Nations Convention Against Torture and 5