E/2004/43 E/C.19/2004/23 33. Within the framework of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and its Action Plan, the Forum recommends that: (a) All United Nations bodies and Governments initiate new ethnographic studies that re-evaluate stereotypical views on gender relationships within indigenous populations in order to challenge existing misconceptions by highlighting diverse community roles in which indigenous women wield real power and play leadership roles; (b) Member States with indigenous populations develop multicultural public policies with a view to implementing the contents of the Declaration and strengthening, in an equitable manner, local cultures; (c) UNESCO promote the recovery of underwater indigenous heritage, the oral tradition and ancient writings with a view to recognizing them as the heritage of humanity. 34. The Forum recommends: (a) That the appropriate agencies, including those engaged in development activities, consider the protection of sacred species; (b) That UNESCO focus attention on the ratification of the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage and on its effective implementation at national levels; (c) That UNESCO explore the links between the protection of tangible cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage and sacred sites and other related UNESCO instruments with a view to broadening, strengthening and streamlining the protection of (indigenous) cultural heritage; (d) That UNESCO facilitate the participation of both the Forum and indigenous peoples’ representatives in all relevant meetings of interest to them; (e) Noting that the current UNESCO endangered languages programme seeks only to record endangered (indigenous) languages, that UNESCO expand its endangered languages programme to record, revive and reintroduce indigenous languages, in cooperation with indigenous peoples. This should include projects that support training in and teaching of indigenous languages at the community level. 35. The Forum recommends that UNESCO, other cultural institutions and academic institutions: (a) Recognize and document the diversity of gender relations in indigenous communities based on active community input and participation; (b) Examine and document women’s spheres of power in indigenous societies, taking into account traditional mechanisms of gender definition and distinction (e.g., pollution/purity, gender-specific roles in ritual, gendered division of labour); (c) Examine and document the instrumental role of women in indigenous societies as the custodians of sacred knowledge and power, and as medical specialists; (d) Highlight and give recognition to women’s instrumental roles in indigenous societies as educators, healers and ritual specialists; (e) Highlight indigenous women’s traditional skills, arts and crafts and publicize them through the media, cultural institutions etc. 13