A/HRC/RES/40/26 action to implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, commends the progress achieved by the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, which has made it possible to collect more than 10,000 statements from victims in several regions of Mali, and encourages the Malian authorities to ensure that the Commission has the independence and means needed to fulfil its mandate to support the victims of the crises in Mali; 22. Encourages the Malian authorities and all regional and international actors to continue their efforts to consolidate the progress made towards the establishment of peace and security in Mali; 23. Commends the work of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali in supporting the efforts of the Government of Mali to restore State authority and the rule of law in the country, and deplores the loss of life suffered by it, including in the attack on 20 January 2019 that cost the lives of 10 peacekeepers; 24. Emphasizes that the efforts of the G5 Sahel joint force to counter the crossborder activities of terrorist groups and other organized criminal groups will help to create a more secure environment and establish the conditions required to improve the human rights situation in Mali, emphasizes the need to operationalize the human rights protection and accountability mechanisms and commends the efforts already made to develop and implement the human rights compliance framework of the joint force; 25. Calls on the G5 Sahel joint force to continue those efforts, including by ensuring the effectiveness of its own accountability mechanisms, which are essential to ensuring that each incident involving civilian victims or alleged human rights violations or abuses or violations of international humanitarian law is subject to a prompt, impartial, independent and thorough investigation, and that immediate steps are taken against the units and individuals alleged to be responsible; 26. Requests all parties to respect human rights and to ensure the strict observance of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, in particular in the course of counter-terrorism operations; 27. Reiterates its appreciation for the humanitarian assistance already provided to civilians and urges the international community to continue to deliver, in consultation with the Government of Mali and the neighbouring countries concerned, appropriate humanitarian assistance, in conditions of security, to refugees and displaced persons, particularly in the centre and north of Mali, with a view to facilitating access by the population to basic social services and to establishing conditions conducive to the gradual recovery of the country; 28. Welcomes the formulation of the Specific Development Strategy for the Northern Regions of Mali, urges the Government to pursue its development work through the implementation of the Emergency Programme for the Revival of Development in the North and the Reconstruction and Economic Recovery Programme, and also urges the Government to accelerate the return of the administration and basic services in the centre and north of the country and to work towards establishing an acceptable level of security; 29. Requests friendly countries and partner organizations that have pledged contributions at successive conferences on the development of Mali to honour those pledges in order to assist the Government to expedite the effective and comprehensive implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali; 30. Welcomes the successful holding of the presidential election in 2018 and reiterates the need for a continued just, free, transparent and inclusive electoral process for the holding of the constitutional referendum and legislative, senatorial and local elections in 2019, guaranteeing freedom of expression and the will of the people; 31. Welcomes the close cooperation of the Government of Mali with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali in the fulfilment of the mandate entrusted to him; 32. Notes with satisfaction the undertaking by the Government of Mali to take into consideration the recommendations made by the Independent Expert following his visits to Mali; GE.19-06048 5