A/HRC/23/58 ground attacks by government forces. Others – often, but not exclusively, from the Alawite, Shia, Druze and Christian communities – are fleeing attack by anti-government armed groups. Within this context, specific instances of forcible displacement have been recorded. 150. In March and April, internally displaced civilians – predominantly from Homs governorate – sought refuge in Deir Atiyah, a town in northern Damascus. Between 19 and 23 April, government forces shelled Deir Atiyah and sent a message to the town authorities that the internally displaced were to be forced to leave the town; failure to do so would result in an attack against the town. In late April, the municipal office of Deir Atiyah informed the displaced that they had four days to leave before their quota of bread was withdrawn. Shortly thereafter, there was an exodus of internally displaced persons, many from Homs city and Al Qusayr, from Deir Atiyah. 151. The indiscriminate bombardment of civilian locations constitutes an attack on a civilian population. Such attacks are widespread in the Syrian Arab Republic, and conducted by government forces pursuant to an organizational policy. The forcible displacement of those who sought refuge in Deir Atiyah was undertaken by perpetrators with knowledge of such attacks, and therefore constitutes a crime against humanity. The war crime of displacing civilians has also been committed. V. Accountability 152. A review of the evidence collected since January has satisfied the commission that the gravity of the crimes committed by government forces and affiliated militia and antigovernment armed groups, the prevalence of such crimes and the alarming rate at which they continue to be perpetrated lend force to the recommendation made by the commission that there must be a referral to justice at the national and international levels. 153. The discussions surrounding the prospects of an international conference have not included any reference to the issue of accountability. While such diplomatic efforts may signify a significant step towards breaking the impasse in the Syrian Arab Republic, the imperative to stop the violence cannot obscure the reality that there can be no enduring peace without justice. 1. Government forces and affiliated militia 154. During the period under review, consistent and corroborated accounts indicated that government forces committed gross violations of their obligations under international human rights law and common article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity. The documented violations are consistent and widespread, and evidence of a concerted policy implemented by the leaders of the military and the Government. 155. No convincing domestic efforts have been made to investigate these crimes or to bring those responsible to justice. The international community also bears the burden of having failed to ensure accountability for the perpetrators. 2. Anti-government armed groups 156. The evidence collected indicates that several individuals in anti-government groups committed war crimes in violation of their obligations under common article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. The takeover of Ar Raqqah in March ushered in a period of lawlessness in the conduct of anti-government armed groups as they turned to violence to assert their authority. The commanders of anti-government armed groups have consistently 23