A/HRC/20/18 assistance to trafficking victims. 62 As a result, non-governmental anti-trafficking organizations have reported that communication with officials has improved and, in some instances, the relevant agencies have permitted specialists from the organizations to attend police interviews and closed court hearings upon victims' requests. 63 More recently it was reported that non-governmental organizations had assisted in the training of Government officials in victim identification. 64 51. In the Netherlands, the Co-ordination Centre on Human Trafficking, La Strada (CoMensha), is an independent organization that works with the national government by preparing reports to inform the recommendations and actions of the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings. CoMensha also registers trafficking victims, makes referrals to partner organizations or authorities, maintains regional networks to coordinate shelter, legal services, medical care and other forms of assistance for victims and provides capacity building trainings to practitioners. 65 52. Government agencies and non-governmental organizations may collaborate in other innovative ways, as seen in the development of a new reporting mechanism in the Philippines. Recognizing that Filipinos are some of the most prolific users of short message service (SMS) technology in the world, a plan entitled “SOS SMS for Overseas Filipino Workers in Distress was created in 2006. For Filipinos abroad, SOS SMS is an all-hours text-based ICT mechanism implemented in coordination with non-governmental organizations and Government agencies to enable trafficked persons to solicit help via any SMS-enabled telephone system. The programme allows for instantaneous and inexpensive reporting, and facilitates counselling, guidance and emergency assistance. 66 53. In India, non-governmental organizations play a significant role both in rescuing victims of trafficking and in providing them with assistance and reintegration services. A judgement made by the fifth Additional Metropolitan Session Judge Court in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, involving a trafficked child illustrates how collaboration resulted in the conviction of two traffickers and support for the minor-victim. In this case, the victim was able to escape her traffickers and contact a non-governmental organization, Prajwala, based in Hyderabad. Prajwala filed a complaint on behalf of the victim, which led to a criminal investigation conducted jointly by police, the Forensics Department and the organization. The traffickers were arrested and the victim was given safe shelter. Prajwala provided psychological counselling and organized a mock trial, with the help of the Public Prosecutor, to prepare the victim to give testimony in court. The case was adjudicated in less than one year and the traffickers were sentenced to a prison term and fined. 67 62 63 64 65 66 67 “OSCE representative encourages Belarus to work closer with NGOs to combat human trafficking”, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, press release, 8 April 2008, available from www.osce.org/cthb/49611. United States Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report 2010 (available from www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2010/), p. 80. Submission by Belarus, pp. 5-9. Submission by the Netherlands, pp. 8-9. “OFW helpline featured at a migration fair in Brussels”, ABS-CBN news, 3 December 2008, available from www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/12/03/08/ofw-helpline-featured-migrationfair-brussels. See UNODC, Compendium of Best Practices on Anti-Human Trafficking by Non-Governmental Organizations, 2008. 13