A/HRC/20/33 right to freedom of expression, particularly by the media, can make a positive contribution to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (para. 90). In this regard the Special Rapporteur would like to encourage the media to strengthen their role in the fight against racism, including by continuing to draw attention to the occurrence of racist incidents while putting them into the right context, giving publicity to the sanctions incurred by racist offenders and developing awareness-raising initiatives to sensitize the population to the adverse effects of racism. Furthermore it is important that when reporting on different groups of individuals, the media avoids negative stereotyping, stigmatization and racial prejudices against these groups of individuals and refrains from any incitement to hatred against them. Instead, the media should recognize its responsibility to present a balanced, contextualized image of discriminated groups such as minorities, refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants. 32. The diversity of the content of media coverage is somehow shaped by the extent of diversity in newsrooms and media houses. In this connection it is important that the media strive to ensure multicultural diversity in their personnel. It is also crucial that States extend support to community media which give voice to the victims of racism and related intolerance. The Special Rapporteur therefore recommends that States develop and implement policy and legal frameworks to support such community media and to consider providing them with the necessary technical, financial and human resources as part of their obligation to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 33. The Special Rapporteur would further like to emphasize that the media can play an important role in creating an environment conducive to peace and reconciliation in postconflict situations. In this regard he reaffirms the position expressed by his predecessor (A/HRC/14/43) that meaningful dialogue involving all the relevant actors, including the media, should be strongly encouraged and supported to prevent fostering and or resurgence of violence. In this context self-regulatory media bodies can also play a positive role including in helping to rebuild the war-shattered and ethnically divided media landscape, through adoption of measures such as enforceable or voluntary media codes of conduct. D. National human rights institutions 34. National human rights institutions in conformity with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993) can play an important role in preventing racism especially if they are provided with the necessary means to perform their mandate. The Special Rapporteur notes that States have the flexibility in designing institutions to address the problem of racism. He is of the view that both institutions with a general human rights mandate and institutions with a specific mandate to fight against racism and racial discrimination can effectively discharge a preventive and protective role. Whichever design a State chooses, it is important that such institutions enjoy legal and operational independence, are well resourced, and that they are accorded the necessary political support and cooperation to deliver on their mandate. In view of this, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the Durban provisions encouraging States to establish such institutions and calls upon the authorities and society in general in those countries where they already exist to extend their cooperation to them to the maximum extent possible, and to provide them with adequate technical, financial and human resources while respecting their independence. He further recalls paragraph 91 of the Durban Programme of Action, which urges States to take steps to ensure that those individuals or groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance can participate fully in these institutions. States should further support these institutions and similar bodies, inter alia through cooperation with institutions in other countries, so that knowledge and best practices can be shared in designing strategies to prevent, combat and eradicate racism. 11