A/HRC/27/71 AMISOM was providing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population, such as rebuilding schools and health infrastructure and providing medical services and medicines. During his meetings with various interlocutors, the Independent Expert heard concerns about the AMISOM involvement in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, particularly how it was likely to have a negative impact on the humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality of humanitarian actors. It was pointed out that humanitarian actors could be put in danger as combatants might not distinguish them from the fighting forces. The matter requires urgent consultations between AMISOM and the humanitarian actors. The Independent Expert urges all parties concerned to work out acceptable operational guidelines in order to ensure that, in the interest of promoting and protecting their human rights, the people of Somalia continue to benefit from, in particular, the right to health, education and a safe environment. F. Humanitarian appeal 32. The Independent Expert recalls that Somalia experienced a severe famine in 2011 and wishes to add his voice to the appeal by humanitarian agencies to the donor community to meet the current funding gap of US$663 million in order to avert a humanitarian disaster in Somalia and ensure the basic right to life. The Independent Expert holds the firm view that for long-term and sustainable peace and stability in Somalia, the improvement of the economic well-being of youth, women including girls, through providing education and vocational training, soft loans for small businesses, the establishment of economic activities such as fishing, support to agriculture and the improvement of the livestock sector, are crucial to underpinning the peace that has been established in newly recovered areas. The international community should therefore consider shifting from predominantly providing food relief which enables people to resist shocks and famine, to investing in financing livelihood projects, including vocational training, tailoring, fishing, and other economic activities. G. Protecting freedom of expression 33. Continuing reports of harassment, intimidation and arbitrary killing of journalists and threats directed at media houses such as the recent directives to one of the private radio stations to close in Jowhar remain a concern for the Independent Expert. He urges all Somalis of different shades of political opinion and creed to respect the rights of journalists and the media to exercise their right to freedom of expression, as a fundamental right and as a critical component towards establishing a stable and democratic society in Somalia. In early July 2014, the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, together with the Minister for Information, launched a three-day stakeholders’ consultative conference to finalize views and adopt a draft media bill prior to tabling it before Parliament. 34. The Independent Expert sent a letter to the President of the Federal Government of Somalia noting that adoption of a media law was a key step towards the implementation of the human rights road map and encouraged the adoption of a law which guarantees and protects the right to freedom of expression, access to information and existence of free media. The Independent Expert also welcomes initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of media practitioners such as the workshop on the draft national gender policy and gender-based violence organized in May 2014 by the AMISOM Gender Unit in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development and the Ministry of Information. 9