UNHCR Advocacy Brief: Screening and identification of persons with vulnerabilities under the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum

SUMMARY OF KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
» Ensure that initial vulnerability identification undertaken at screening is complemented with further, in-depth assessment as foreseen by the APR and RCD, with vulnerability assessment and referral to specialized services and/or adapted
procedures ensured at all stages of the asylum process.
» Improve and frontload data collection at the screening stage and collect a wider set of information beyond the minimum standards set out in the APR to facilitate vulnerability identification.
» Provide adequate training and capacity building to screening authorities to ensure early detection of vulnerabilities.
» Deploy specially trained experts in the identification of statelessness, trafficking and specific vulnerabilities during the screening procedure to support the vulnerability identification process.
» Ensure that the screening system is adequately resourced to effectively identify vulnerabilities, including where those are not readily apparent, and where specialized expertise may be required.
» Ensure that applicants are informed of the opportunity to disclose vulnerability and specific needs at the screening stage (while still providing for possibilities for the disclosure to take place after the screening stage and be given due
consideration).
» Ensure the systematic integration of protection experts in all Frontex support activities in border management operations
» Operationalise the introduction of trafficking referral mechanisms and national focal points in the framework of the new Anti-Trafficking Directive, by including them in national implementation strategies to be elaborated in cooperation with support organizations.
» Facilitate development of harmonised standards for referral mechanisms and statelessness determination procedures.