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Denmark apologizes to victims in Greenland
On Wednesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen formally apologized to the victims of a forced contraception campaign carried out in Greenland until 1992, addressing a longstanding point of tension between Denmark and its autonomous territory.
“We cannot undo what happened, but we can accept our responsibilities,” Frederiksen said in a statement. “That is why I would like, on behalf of Denmark, to say ‘sorry.’”
The apology, requested by victims for years, was received positively. Mads Pramming, lawyer for nearly 150 victims pursuing legal action against the Danish state, said: “My clients are pleased; this is a big step. We still need to see if the state recognizes legal responsibility and offers compensation.”
Survivors shared harrowing experiences. Many Inuit women, some as young as 13, were fitted with intrauterine devices without consent. Of roughly 9,000 women of childbearing age between the late 1960s and 1992, more than 4,500 were affected, resulting in permanent sterility and lasting physical and psychological consequences.
The campaign aimed to limit births in the Arctic territory, still under Copenhagen’s oversight at the time. Since the first public testimony in 2019, many women have spoken out, highlighting the “colonization” of their bodies and demanding accountability.
Frederiksen also acknowledged other systemic discrimination issues affecting Greenlanders, including forced adoptions and child removals. The Greenlandic Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also issued an apology. Potential compensations will be considered after an independent inquiry is completed.