Faisalabad: March 5, 2010. (PCP) Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) in collaboration with Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) organized a two-days training of trainers titled “Education for Democracy and Human Rights” under ‘Democratic Education for Women-DEW Program’ from 28th February to 1st March 2010, at Centre for Peace and Harmony in Faisalabad. 42 Muslim and Christian trainees including political workers, teachers, students and representatives of NGOs actively participated in the training. The purpose of the training was to educate trainees about democratic norms and principles, to multiply political awareness for the participation of masses in the political process and to discuss challenges for democracy in Pakistan. The facilitators of the training included; Naseem Anthony (Executive Secretary-AWAM), Suneel Malik (Secretary-NCJP), Shazia George (Coordinator-AWAM), Iftikhar Ahmad, Najeeb Ali Shah, Sitar Haider, Kaneez Ishaq and Zafar Iqbal. The content of the training included: concepts of democracy and human rights, democracy and characteristic of a democratic state, situation of civil and political rights in Pakistan, role of political parties and NGOs for the promotion of democratic culture, democratic system in Pakistan: challenges and resolves, women participation in political process: social and cultural barriers. The facilitators termed ‘restrictions on the participation of women in political process, buying and selling of votes, politics in the name of caste’ as contrary to democratic values. They showed their grave concerns over the undemocratic decision of democratic government of appointing administrators and decreasing the participation of women in the political process by the dissolution of local government system. The trainers for the strengthening and success of democratic system in Pakistan demanded that: the state institutions should be allowed to function in accordance with the Constitution while the laws, constitution and policies, discriminating on the basis of religion and sex, should be amended to comply with the standards and norms of human rights; balance of the powers among state institutions such as; judiciary, legislature and executives, must be ensured, separation of religion from the state affairs should be ensured; rule of law and participation of marginalized groups in the mainstream should be ensured. Shazia George, Coordinator, Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) prepared and issued this report.