Denmark PM to apologize to Greenland victims of forced contraception

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Sep 2025 14:08
1 Shares

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is set to give a formal apology in Greenland for a decades-long forced contraception campaign that targeted around 4,500 Inuit women.

Listen

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen delivers her speech as Denmark holds the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe, Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Pascal Bastien)

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will travel to Greenland on Wednesday to personally apologise to Inuit women who were subjected to a decades-long forced contraception program imposed by Denmark.

A special ceremony will take place in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, marking what officials describe as a crucial moment in the reconciliation process.

“This will be a very important moment for these women, but also for society as a whole,” Aaja Chemnitz, an MP representing Greenland in the Danish parliament, said to AFP.

The apology follows Frederiksen’s written statement in late August, where she acknowledged Denmark’s responsibility for the program. On Monday, she also announced the creation of a reconciliation fund to support victims and others who faced discrimination because of their Inuit heritage.

“It’s very good news because my clients are not satisfied with just an apology,” lawyer Mads Pramming, who represents around 150 women suing Denmark for rights violations, told AFP.

Chemnitz noted that Frederiksen’s visit marks a significant departure from past Danish leaders who resisted recognising injustices committed in Greenland.

The history of forced contraception among Inuit women

Between the late 1960s and 1992, Danish authorities compelled around 4,500 Inuit women, about half of those of childbearing age at the time, to have intrauterine devices (IUDs) implanted without consent.

The program aimed to reduce birth rates among Greenland’s Inuit population. Many women were left sterile, and nearly all suffered long-term physical or psychological harm.

The case is one of several historical abuses straining Denmark’s relationship with Greenland, alongside forced adoptions and the removal of Inuit children from their families.

Lasting impact and legal battles for compensation

For years, survivors remained silent until one victim publicly shared her trauma. In 2022, a podcast series exposed the full scale of the scandal, pushing both governments to commission an independent inquiry.

Pramming’s clients are seeking financial compensation, with lawsuits pending against Denmark. The newly announced reconciliation fund has been welcomed, though victims stress that recognition and accountability remain vital.

External pressure and shifts in Danish-Greenland relations

Observers point out that international dynamics, including US interest in Greenland’s strategic location, have pushed Denmark to reassess its approach. US President Donald Trump even expressed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory, adding external pressure on Copenhagen to strengthen ties.

“In the past, Danish prime ministers have always been reluctant to acknowledge injustices in Greenland,” historian Astrid Andersen said to AFP. “This apology is a major turning point.”

A joint Danish-Greenlandic inquiry into the contraception campaign has already concluded, while a separate legal study is underway. That report, expected in 2026, will examine whether the programme constituted genocide under international law.

For many Greenlanders, the apology and ceremonies mark an important step in acknowledging collective trauma and ensuring historical injustices are no longer ignored.