The app, which is available for free on both Apple and Android devices, supports law enforcement and border and immigration officials to more effectively communicate with potentially vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking at border stations across South East Asia, and where needed, to identify appropriate referral pathways.

The Screening and Referral Toolkit app has been developed to serve as an interactive learning resource for border officials as they build their capacity to screen and refer individuals with specific needs, including asylum-seekers, refugees, victims of trafficking, unaccompanied children and irregular migrants without international protection needs. The app further supports the training of frontline officials through its four best-practice modules that cover effective communication techniques, interview questionnaires, information on working with children, and country-specific information on referral procedures.

The updated version now supports the screening of people through a questionnaire available in 15 languages, with the app able to read aloud all content, allowing staff to play questions and answers to migrants who they may otherwise struggle to communicate with.

The toolkit was developed in consultation with a roster of national experts composed of government officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Its development also incorporated feedback from border officials who used it in a training context.  The toolkit was used to build the capacity of more than 300 government officials from immigration, law enforcement, and coast guard and maritime units, through its use in workshops and trainings in various countries in Southeast Asia.

Users have recognised the ease of using the app, as a “guideline for evaluating/identifying risk groups who may be victims of human trafficking” and commented that “it is so helpful for me as a social worker who directly faces refugees”.  

A 5-minute explainer video, currently available in English (available at this link), describes how to use the app. A FAQ is also available to help answer common questions about the toolkit and how to use it. The toolkit is easy to download and can act as a useful resource for anyone whose work involves frontline interactions with vulnerable migrants or potential victims of trafficking.

The Toolkit is currently used by the RSO and UNHCR and other partners as part of training for law enforcement and border and immigration officials, and the RSO is further seeking interest from Member States for a wider field roll-out of the toolkit, building its use formally into national screening and identification processes.  Please email info@rso.baliprocess.net to find out more and to express interest in opportunities to trial the toolkit.