A/HRC/40/77 69. The Independent Expert recommends that armed groups: (a) Immediately cease all hostilities and attacks against civilians and respect the rights of civilian populations, in particular the rights to life, security and physical integrity; (b) Respect peacekeeping forces and the staff and property of humanitarian organizations and allow the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid; (c) Strictly respect the independence and impartiality of humanitarian organizations in their efforts to provide food and health assistance to people affected by the conflict. 70. The Independent Expert recommends that the international community: (a) Remain primed to help to overcome the humanitarian crisis, finance the Humanitarian Response Plan 2017–2019 and combat terrorism; (b) Strengthen its commitment to the Malian State so that Mali can fulfil its obligations to protect property and persons, especially with regard to violence against women and girls, which must be stopped; (c) Support the efforts of the Malian Government in the difficult tasks of ensuring peace and restoring State authority throughout the country; (d) Fulfil the commitments it has made to strengthen the capacity, in every respect, of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel with a view to enabling it to meet the increasingly formidable security challenges that are being faced in the Sahel; (e) GE.19-00939 Remain seized of the situation of human rights in Mali. 15