A/RES/70/233 Situation of human rights in Myanmar Myanmar and the efforts made towards ensuring a credible electoral process, commends this significant step towards democracy, encourages the authorities to continue to ensure a transparent approach in subsequent stages of the electoral process, further welcomes the invitation and access given to domestic and international observer organizations to monitor the elections by the Gover nment of Myanmar and the Union Election Commission, and encourages the authorities to implement the recommendations made by those organizations to further strengthen Myanmar’s electoral process; 3. Expresses serious concern over, and encourages action to address, political disenfranchisement and discriminatory disqualification of candidates, including with respect to members of the Rohingya community and persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities; 4. Encourages continued efforts by parties to engage in early, constructive and inclusive dialogue towards a smooth transition to the next government, and calls upon all stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring that, during the period between the final election announcement and the formation of the next government, there is an atmosphere of calm and restraint, with respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the rule of law; 5. Stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief applies equally to all persons, regardless of their religion or belief and without any discrimination as to their equal protection under the law; 6. Calls upon all actors to sustain the democratic transition of Myanmar by bringing all national institutions, including the military, under a democratically elected, fully representative civilian government; 7. Welcomes the steps taken to strengthen good governance and the rule of law, and calls upon the Government of Myanmar to continue such efforts, esp ecially through continued constitutional, legislative, judicial and institutional reform, and recalls the importance of ensuring, including through the revision of laws, that existing and new legislation is fully compatible with democratic principles and human rights obligations and commitments, including, as part of those obligations, the right to freedom of religion or belief, the human rights of women and children and the rights of persons belonging to minorities; 8. Recalls the handling of certain demonstrations, and encourages the Government of Myanmar to continue its efforts to fulfil its human rights obligations and commitments to protect the right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society and independent media and to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of journalists, civil society activists and human rights defenders and their freedom to pursue their activities; 9. Welcomes the recent release of some prisoners of conscience, while urging the Government of Myanmar to resume working with the political prisoner review committee and to fulfil its commitment to the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including those recently detained or convicted, and to provide for the full rehabilitation of former prisoners of conscience; 10. Urges the Government of Myanmar to step up its efforts to end remaining human rights violations and abuses, including arbitrary arrest and detention, forced displacement, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, arbitrary deprivation of property, including land, and violations of international humanitarian law in some parts of the country, 2/4