The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (also known as the "Human Rights Forum") has been in existence since January 1998. Twelve non-governmental organisations working in the field of human rights joined together to provide legal and psychosocial 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 inter-human 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.

Core member organisations of the Human Forum are:

The Amani Trust
Amnesty International (Zimbabwe) (AI (Z))
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
Legal Resources Foundation
Transparency International (Zimbabwe) (TI (Z))
University of Zimbabwe Legal Aid and Advice Scheme
Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and the Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO)
Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA)

Associate members are:

Nonviolent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC)

Advocacy; Civil Activism; Counselling; Human Rights; Legal; Research/Documentation/Information Dissemination; Victim Support