The corresponding movement in Slovakia was called Public Against Violence (Slovak: Verejnosť proti násiliu - VPN).

The Civic Forum's purpose was to unify the dissident forces in Czechoslovakia and to overthrow the Communist regime.

The Civic Forum had a very loose structure, and most of its (self-appointed) leaders came from Prague-based members of the Charter 77 dissident movement.

Urban served until June 1990, when he resigned, stating he did not want a rift between the organization and the president.

Klaus's policies were opposed by other leading figures within the Forum and party unity soon vanished.