A/HRC/42/CRP.5 C. The situation in northern Myanmar 675. Ethnic communities in northern Myanmar have endured decades of conflict-related human rights violations and abuses. These have continued despite the various ceasefires past and present. The Mission found that the human rigths situation in northern Myanmar continues to raise concerns since its last report. While active hostilities may have declined in Kachin State, the underlying violations, such as torture and ill-treatment, sexual and gender-based violence and a wide range of violations of economic, social and cultural rights, remain part of the daily lives of ethnic communities in the north. This continuing pattern testifies to the lack of sincerity on the part of the Government, including the Tatmadaw, in talking about peace, even during a relative lull in the conflict. EAOs in northern Myanmar also bear responsibility in this respect and reports of violations of international humanitarian law warrant further investigation.. The Mission concluded that the situation in northern Myanmar will likely deteriorate further if there is no genuine effort to address the continuing cycles of serious violations of human rights and violations under international humanitarian law, including war crimes. 676. The Mission identified a need for investigations in relation to the ethnic Karen and Kokang populations. Its own limited investigations confirm many of the established patterns documented in relation to other ethnic groups. The decades of conflict have produced a commonality of suffering and harship, including widespread displacement. D. Recommendations 677. In March 2017, the Human Rights Council gave this Mission the mandate of “establishing the facts and circumstances of the alleged recent human rights violations by military and security forces, and abuses, in Myanmar in particular Rakhine State”. In extending the Mission’s mandate in September 2018, the Human Rights Council sought to avoid an investigative gap between the end of the Mission’s mandate and the new Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar becoming operational. The Mission is grateful to the Human Rights Council for recognising the need for continued monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Myanmar. This has been essential to the hundreds of thousands of victims whose stories deserve to be told. The Mission has sought to discharge its mandate independently, impartially and diligently, throughout the last two and half years. It deeply regrets the lack of dialogue with the Government of Myanmar, as it remains of the view that Myanmar must acknowledge and act as part of any sustainable and long-term accountability initiative. 678. In this final report, the Mission reiterates all its previous recommendations contained in its various reports, which have been compiled in A/CRP/42/CRP.6 in particular those releated to accountability and ending hostilities. It makes the following additional and final recommendations regarding the way forward. 1. To the Government of Myanmar: 679. Review the Mission’s findings contained in its reports and take necessary measures to implement its recommendations. The Government should regularly report on progress in implementing the Mission’s recommendations, including through, but not limited to, the United Nations human rights mechanisms; 680. Seek the support of the United Nations, its funds and programmes, to implement these recommendations, as necessary. Ethnic conflicts 681. Take measures to protect civilian populations from the effects of the ethnic conflicts, including through strict adherence to international humanitarian law and international human rights law; 682. Grant unfettered humanitarian access, for UN and other inter-governmental agencies and national and international non-government agencies, to all parts of Myanmar, in particular Rakhine, Chin, Kachin and Shan States; 177