Lahore: February 16, 2012. (PCP) The 2nd Module of the “Participatory Course on Democracy and Human Rights (PCDHR)” was held on January 20-28, 2012 at Dar-ul-Massarat Training Institute- Lahore under the auspices of Centre for Human Rights 21 human rights defenders/educators and university students from different areas of Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and staff members of CHRE attended this course. The 1st Module of the PCDHR was held on September 10-19, 2011 with the same participants PCDHR is a three week course and is the Core initiatives of CHRE programming. PCDHR puts a strong emphasis on transfer of learning and on follow-up activities and the participants are required to develop an individual plan to ensure that learnings are put into practice. PCDHR is designed for human rights defenders and educators working with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and the students of the Social Science Departments (Sociology, Political Science, Gender Studies, International Relations, Mass Communications etc.), the officials of different state institutions, media and the political groups. The Course is conducted in participatory methodology to enhance the understanding of the participants on the concepts of democracy and human rights and to enhance their skills to work effectively as human rights defenders. The participants of PCDHR made exposure visits on January 25, 2012 to assess the functioning of the state institutions and human right situations in Pakistan •  Punjab Assembly •  Election Commission of Pakistan •  DASTAK (Women’s Shelter Home) •  Gosha-e-Aman (property of the Catholic Church being demolished and occupied by Punjab Government) •  Hindu Temple in Lahore to assess the situation of Hindu minority •  Transgender community •  Sex Workers The participants and representative organizations were as Mr. Syed Inam-ul-haq from Dir Lower KPK, Mercy Hands, Mr. Mir Ahmed Sami from Noshki-Baluchistan of Azat Foundation Balochistan, Mr. Zaheer ullah Mianwali-Punjab, a Student, Mr. Muhammad Usman Sukkur-Sindh of Society for Social Advancement moderation and justice, Mr. Imdad Ali Sanghar-Sindh from Sustainable Development Foundation, Mr. Shafqat Emmanuel Lahore-Punjab from Catholic Youth Ministry Lahore, Ms. Sana Iqbal Haripur-KPK from Empower Pak, Ms. Saima Ali Bahawalpur-Punjab Kehkashan from Development Organization, Mr. Imran Maqsood Sheikhupura-Punjab from Mutual Development and Reconciliation in Society, Ms. Sameena Waheed Guddu Barrage-Sindh from National Development Organization, Mr. Shahid Hussain Ranjanpur-Punjab from Damaan Women Development Foundation, Mr. Santosh Kumar Mithi-Sindh from Skill Enhancing & Research Home of the Children, Ms. Neha Riaz Lahore-Punjab, a Student-Punjab University, Mr. Waseem Ghouri Lahore-Punjab from Simorgh Women Resource Centre, Mr. Suba Saroya Lahore-Punjab, a Lawyer-Lahore High Court, Mr. Naeem Haroon Khanewal- Punjab from Centre for Human Rights Education, Mr. Imtiaz Amanat Hyderabad- Sindh from Centre for Human Rights Education, Dr. Adu Ram Bahawalpur-Punjab from Centre for Human Rights Education, Mr. Naveed Raphael Hyderabad- Sindh from Centre for Human Rights Education, Mr. Zahid Rehman Lahore-Punjab from Centre for Human Rights Education and Ms. Kanwal Shahid Lahore-Punjab from Centre for Human Rights