A/HRC/41/44/Add.1 The situation of unaccompanied children triggers several challenges for Swedish institutions, especially in the municipalities in which the children live, which are responsible for practical issues relating to those children, including their education, health care and housing.63 While noting the complexity of the situation, the Independent Expert was pleased to hear about the efforts made by the authorities to ensure the protection of these children, including through the establishment of a national knowledge centre for unaccompanied children, as well as the monitoring and reporting work of the Swedish Ombudsman for Children. 58. The Independent Expert was made aware of some cases in Sweden in which persons faced criminal charges for coming to the aid of refugees and asylum seekers in need, including unaccompanied children, on humanitarian grounds. Such persons can be charged with human smuggling. Such acts should, as is the law in some other countries, be covered by a humanitarian exemption. B. Good practices and positives initiatives in response to the recent migration flux 59. Despite the exceptionally high number of newcomers arriving on its territory, Sweden has generally managed to ensure a human rights-based solidarity-oriented response to the large flows of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Since 2016, the Government has made greater efforts to welcome significant numbers of refugees, increasing its quota from 1,900 to 5,000 places. As a result, Sweden became the third largest recipient country of refugees worldwide, after the United States of America and Canada, which is illustrative of its continuous and exemplary determination to guarantee the protection of these vulnerable groups and advance human rights-based international solidarity. In 2017, most of the refugees who arrived in Sweden were from the Syrian Arab Republic, and from East and North Africa.64 60. Recognizing that some of the above-mentioned challenges were triggered by a lack of a joint European response to the asylum seeker and refugee flows, the Independent Expert notes with appreciation the positive initiatives implemented by the Swedish authorities to ensure the effective integration of newcomers into the country. For example, the Ministry of Employment informed the Independent Expert of the introduction programme and other resources available to strengthen the integration of newly arrived migrants into the labour market and Swedish society. Several measures are initiated when a person applies for asylum with the Swedish Migration Agency. The integration policy put in place by the authorities focuses on employment from day one. Therefore, a mapping of skills is undertaken for each applicant and all newcomers receive Swedish language classes to facilitate their integration into the labour market and society. 65 Swedish authorities also informed the Independent Expert that, despite the efforts made to respond to the urgent needs of newcomers and to facilitate their integration into Swedish society, some important challenges remained, including due to a general shortage of housing in Sweden. 61. The Independent Expert was also pleased to learn that newcomers had some access to medical and social services. All asylum seekers arriving in the territory are entitled to a free health check-up upon arrival, and children are entitled to free health care and education. Asylum seekers over 18 years old have access to urgent health care, and those registered as asylum seekers are entitled to pay only 50 Swedish kronor (approximately $5) for a healthcare visit. During his visit to Malmö, the Independent Expert was informed of local and regional initiatives to provide assistance to asylum seekers and refugees. He welcomes the initiative by Skåne County to establish a Knowledge Centre for Migration and Health that aims to provide more equal and safe care to people from other countries. He notes with appreciation that special emphasis is paid to the mental health status of migrants and 63 64 65 Information shared by relevant authorities. See www.migrationsverket.se/English/About-the-Migration-Agency/For-press/News-archive/Newsarchive-2018/2018-02-20-Sweden-is-the-third-largest-recipient-country-of-quota-refugees.html. Information shared by relevant authorities. 15