Pakistan: June 2, 2010. (Shazia George reports for PCP) On 30 May 2010, AWAM (Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation) organized a training workshop titled “Community Education for Democracy and Human Rights” in collaboration with TFD (Taiwan Foundation for Democracy), which was joined by 35 Muslim and Christian participants from different schools of thought. Naseem Anthony (Executive Secretary-AWAM), George Clement (Director-LEAP), Nazia Sardar, Shazia George and Zafar Iqbal were among the facilitators of the workshop, held at St. Joseph Community Hall in Faisalabad. Naseem Anthony said, “Four elements are imperative to run democracy which includes; free and free elections, transparent and accountable government, civil and political rights and democratic society.” “It is essential to provide equal human rights to all citizens especially marginalized groups (women, religious minorities, children, persons with disabilities, labourers) irrespective of any discrimination, for the enforcement of democracy in the real sense,” he added. George Clement said, “Politics is the name of policy adopted through parliament for the progress and betterment of the society, but politics is used as a tool in Pakistan for the personal benefits instead of collective interests of the citizens.” “Democratic culture cannot prevail without existence of secularism and liberation in any society,” he added. Shazia George said, “Democracy depends on dialogue, understanding, reconciliation and resolution, but assurance of equal human rights regardless of any biases for all citizens is the base of the democratic system.” Nazia Sardar said, “There is neither any improvement in the situation of women’s rights nor proportion of crimes against women has decreased, despite presence of domestic laws in order to prevent offenses against women in Pakistan.” “There is a need to provide women with due representation in political and economic fields in accordance with their proportion in population, for the elimination of male-dominating perception towards women and for their empowerment as well,” she added. Zafar Iqbal said, “There is a class distinction in our Pakistani society due to the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities, because 85 % of the resources of the country are under the control of the 15 % population consisting of landlords, industrialists, bureaucrats and feudal lords.” The facilitators for the success of the democratic system in Pakistan demanded that: government must show gesture of believing in rule of law and supremacy of the constitution by accepting and implementing each and every verdict of the judiciary; government must ensure safety and security of lives, belongings and worship places of all citizens of Pakistan especially religious minorities; hate material and hate speeches against any religion or sect must be banned through legislation in order to promote religious and sectarian tolerance; all the laws against religious minorities and women, curbing the basic human rights as enshrined in the constitution must be repealed.