E/CN.4/2005/18/Add.2 page 18 (f) Special emphasis should be placed on the core issue of the construction of a pluralist identity in Guatemala through the promotion of multicultural and intercultural education that pays special attention to the way history is written and taught, to the system of values and to the development of genuine multilingualism in all walks of life. In this context, special attention should be paid to two central dimensions of national identity: the promotion of multiculturalism in the media, both in their output and in their management and operational structure; and the dynamic national culture resulting from the promotion of the country’s architectural and historical heritage and the development of the creativity and thriving cultural practices of all its peoples and communities. The development of adequately-resourced local, community-based, free media should be part of these efforts; (g) The process of catharsis initiated by the Commission for Historical Clarification set up to shed light on past human rights violations should be pursued in order to expunge the painful experience of discrimination and put an end to the impunity enjoyed by those responsible for the political violence; the Commission’s recommendations with regard to preserving the memory of the victims of the armed conflict, moral and material redress for victims or their families, and the establishment of a mental-health programme for those traumatized by the armed conflict should be implemented quickly; (h) The Presidential Commission on Discrimination and Racism against Indigenous Peoples and the Presidential Human Rights Commission should be linked by law to Congress to make them statutorily independent, in accordance with the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the Paris Principles); similarly, these commissions should be given their own financial resources under the annual State budget; (i) The Special Rapporteur encourages Congress to speed up the process of adopting the law that will authorize the Government to make the declaration recognizing the competence of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination under article 14 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; (j) It is recommended that non-governmental organizations should take an active part in drawing up and implementing a national programme to combat racism and racial discrimination, by making proposals to eliminate racism and racial discrimination, with the focus on resolving communities’ specific problems; in the process, these organizations should work together to help build a more mutually supportive and democratic society. Recommendations at the regional level 48. Efforts to combat racism and racial discrimination should take into account the regional dimension in Central America, where the societies share not only demographic, ethnic and cultural similarities, but above all a historical heritage of racism and discrimination, amplified by present-day political violence. The countries of this region are also characterized by movements of population groups which are victims of discriminatory practices to various degrees in the different countries. The Special Rapporteur consequently recommends that the Organization of American States (OAS), and in