E/CN.4/2004/21 page 14 77. The observer for Brazil stated that the experts, in diagnosing the problems of violence, might wish to make stronger connections with the Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The observers for Mexico and Uruguay agreed, citing the recommendations of the Uruguay workshop and the recommendations of CERD. Mr. Frans agreed, noting that the Working Group should draw on previous human rights reports and mechanisms and connect and build on the work of regional organizations like the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia and the European Network against Racism. 78. The observer for the African Society of Comparative and International Law made three concrete recommendations concerning Martinique: (a) a small commission of experts should be sent to the Caribbean for an on-site visit; (b) the principle of non-discrimination (positive actions) should be established for people of African descent in the region; (c) the bicentenary of the Haitian revolution in 2004 should be commemorated appropriately. 79. At the ninth meeting, Mr. Kasanda introduced recommendation 27 of the Working Group concerning “… a study be undertaken on the media and people of African descent that would focus in part on stereotypes, negative imagery and issues of invisibility. The study should also focus on how the media makes and can continue to make positive contributions to combating racial stereotypes and prejudice and to enriching cultural diversity and multicultural societies.” The Chairperson-Rapporteur introduced the panellists for this theme: Lionel Morrison of the International Federation of Journalists; Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou of the International Council on Human Rights Policy; Patrick Gasser of the Union of European Football Associations; and Boël Sambuc of the Commission fédéral Suisse contre le racisme (Swiss Federal Commission against Racism). 80. Mr. Morrison presented his paper entitled “How the media can grasp diversity” (E/CN.4/2003/WG.20/Misc.12). He explained that the European news media, like much of the general population, still had to embrace the concept of a multiracial/multicultural society. He described how the media covered “race” issues through often implicit discourse, the invisibility of racial minorities, the perception that people of African descent were the source of problems, and the inability to question or challenge racist ideas. The media sometimes did more than simply report; it generated, or constructed “racism.” He gave examples in some European countries to illustrate those issues. 81. He argued that media had a responsibility and an obligation to combat racism and xenophobia, and that the absence of voices of people of African descent in the media must be tackled. He discussed codes of conduct for the media and illustrated the role of the International Federation of Journalists in trying to address some of those issues. 82. Mr. Mohamedou presented his paper entitled “Media and the problem of racism” (E/CN.4/2003/WG.20/Misc.5). He said that the media had a special role to play - primarily by virtue of the position they occupied in society and their (self-attributed) mission. While there were serious limitations to the commonality of interests of human rights organizations and media outlets, the dilemma for human rights organizations was to keep the media interested without trivializing or sensationalizing the issues they wanted to see aired. Racism was witnessed in the media in a variety of ways: systemic and/or systematic underrepresentation of groups that suffered from racism; stereotyping of particular communities and inaccurate representation of