REDRESS, FIDH, TRIAL, ECCHR, AI and HRW have sent a letter to the EU national contact points on international crimes ahead of the 16th meeting of the European Network of contact points, taking place in The Hague on 21 and 22 May 2014, in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes regarding the planned discussion on the investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence as crimes under international law. Our  organisations take this opportunity to draw practitioners’ attention to the common obstacles and challenges faced in efforts to combat impunity for sexual and gender-base crimes.