The Forum was formed in 1998 and is a coalition of 21 specialist human rights NGOs in Zimbabwe that advocate greater protection and promotion of human rights, with a particular focus on organized violence and torture. The Forum has demonstrated considerable success in citizen empowerment; provision of legal and psycho-social support to victims of human rights violations; research, information, and analysis; advocacy and lobbying (including transitional justice advocacy); and coordination of human rights institutions. The Forum has scored success on the domestic front since the turn of the century as it won the very first case that it filed on behalf of a victim of human rights abuse. Over the years the Forum has been at the forefront of fighting impunity in courts and the process getting significant amounts in reparations for victims. Since 1998, the Forum has stood side by side with over 20 000 victims of organized violence and torture and processed over 7 000 civil cases in local and international courts.

With a nationwide reach through its members who have offices in the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe, the Forum has the reach to implement programs countrywide. The Forum is widely viewed as a credible brand by national and international stakeholders and beneficiaries. It has produced some authoritative reports, both written and documentary. The reports are cited as authority in influencing serious decisions. The Forum has vast experience in regional and international lobby and advocacy and has a presence at regional and international platforms, including judicial and quasi-judicial platforms. The Forum as the coordinator of the CSOs’ UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) platform and the government-led UPR steering committee, has helped in unlocking avenues for engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, the government, and independent constitutional commissions. The Forum is a member of the UPR Steering Committee, which the Ministry of Justice coordinates, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs, and is mandated to oversee the implementation of human rights obligations by the government.

The Forum has observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and has contributed to the development of the normative framework for human rights in the region through its work with the ACHPR where it has been participating since 2002. It has taken cases of violation of human rights to this continental body and has scored a remarkable success. The Forum is a member of the Coalition of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which advocates for the ratification of the African Court protocol by member states of the African Union. It is also coordinating the work of the Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN), which makes it strategically positioned to synergize the local initiatives on human rights advocacy with international developments. The Forum has memoranda of understanding with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), Parliament of Zimbabwe, and CIVICUS.