Part II National human rights institutions’ domestic activities and functions should target and seek to involve policymakers at all levels, the general public, educational institutions and the news media.187 Promoting awareness of, and respect for, human rights is a core function of all NHRIs. This mandate uniquely positions NHRIs to assist their State to meet these obligations. NHRIs have three key goals in awareness raising and education: • To increase awareness of the existence and nature of rights • To foster values and attitudes which uphold and respect human rights • To encourage the public to assert their human rights and state institutions to support their enforcement.188 1. RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS Raising public awareness of a human rights issue can foster community-wide attitudinal change. In turn, this can positively influence decision-making and law reform. 1.1. THE BROADER POPULATION In many instances, indigenous peoples form a minority of a State’s population and are often geographically isolated. As a result, it is not uncommon for the human rights issues confronting indigenous peoples to remain hidden from the broader population, including: • Discrimination • Dispossession from land and territory • Denial of culture • Poverty • Substance abuse • Violence. Furthermore, the broader population that lives in indigenous areas or close to indigenous communities can at times express opposition to indigenous peoples’ claims and rights. It is important that awareness raising activities be specifically targeted when these situations exist. Compounding possible ignorance, public perceptions of indigenous peoples are often influenced by negative stereotypes, particularly in the media. These stereotypes and images can serve to legitimize public opinions about indigenous peoples that are racially discriminatory. Articles 15 and 16 of the Declaration directly target this issue. The protection, promotion and realization of indigenous peoples’ human rights cannot be achieved without confronting negative stereotypes and public ignorance. NHRIs can play a pivotal role in raising awareness and providing the historical context to the contemporary human rights challenges facing indigenous peoples. A public awareness campaign is an effective mechanism to engage the broader community on these issues. 187 A/HRC/12/34/Add.2, para. 77. 188 National Human Rights Institutions: History, Principles, Roles and Responsibilities; p. 57. Chapter 7: Awareness raising and education 59