Situation of human rights in Myanmar A/RES/73/264 systematic oppression and discrimination that the fact-finding mission concluded may amount to persecution and to the crime of apartheid, also strongly condemns the grossly disproportionate response of the military and the security forces, deplores the serious deterioration of the security, human rights and humanitarian situation and the exodus of more than 723,000 Rohingya Muslims and other minorities to Bangladesh and the subsequent depopulation of northern Rakhine State, and calls upon the Myanmar authorities to ensure that those responsible for violations of international law, including human rights violations and abuses, are held accountable and removed from positions of power; 3. Calls for a full and independent investigation of the human rights violations and abuses committed, including against the Rohingya Muslims and persons belonging to other minorities, as reported by various United Nations bodies, including the Human Rights Council, the fact-finding mission and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, to ensure that those responsible for such crimes are held accountable; 4. Notes the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry by the Government of Myanmar as a step towards ensuring accountability for investigating alleged violations and abuses of human rights in Rakhine State, provided that the commission, unlike preceding national investigative mechanisms, is able to work with independence, impartiality, transparency and objectivity in a credible way in line with international standards, and encourages the commission to seek support and expertise from the United Nations and the international community; 5. Calls for the expeditious entry into operation of the independent mechanism established by the Human Rights Council and steps to secure its effective functioning as soon as possible; 6. Notes the recommendation by the fact-finding mission on the conduct of a comprehensive, independent inquiry into the involvement of the United Nations in Myanmar since 2011, and encourages the United Nations system to follow up on the issues raised and to ensure that all engagement with Myanmar takes into account, and addresses, human rights concerns; 7. Also notes the holding of the third session of the 21st-Century Panglong Conference from 11 to 16 July 2018 and the progress made towards the principles of a future democratic federal union of Myanmar, while calling for further steps, including an immediate cessation of fighting and hostilities, of targeting civilians and of all violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in northern Myanmar and an inclusive and comprehensive national political dialogue ensuring the full, effective and meaningful participation of all ethnic groups, women and young people, and persons with disabilities, as well as civil society, with the objective of achieving lasting peace; 8. Reiterates the urgent call upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To take the necessary measures to address the spread of discrimination and prejudice and to combat the incitement of hatred against Rohingya Mus lims and other persons belonging to minorities, including Kachin and Shan, by publicly condemning such acts and combating hate speech, while fully respecting international human rights law, as well as by promoting interfaith dialogue in cooperation with th e international community and encouraging political and religious leaders in the country to work towards reconciliation among communities and national unity through dialogue; (b) To expedite efforts to eliminate statelessness and the systematic and institutionalized discrimination against members of ethnic and religious minorities, in particular relating to the Rohingya Muslims, by, inter alia, reviewing the 1982 18-22647 5/8