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Between the late 1960s and 1992, around 4,500 Greenlandic Inuit women were fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs) without their knowledge or consent
Locals wearing a traditional clothing made of pearl collar and seal hides participating the National Day in Nuuk, Greenland. (Representational image via AP)
Denmark will compensate thousands of Greenlandic Inuit women who were subjected to decades of non-consensual contraception under a state-run campaign that lasted from the late 1960s to the early 1990s.
The move comes after growing public pressure and the conclusion of an official inquiry into the practice, which involved around 4,500 women — nearly half of all women of childbearing age in Greenland at the time — being forcibly fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs) without their knowledge or consent.
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On Wednesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen travelled to Greenland to offer a formal apology during a ceremony in Nuuk, the territory’s capital.
In a message posted on social media after her arrival, Frederiksen called the moment “an important marking” of “a dark chapter in our shared history.”
“It will be a very important moment for these women, obviously, but also for society as a whole,” said Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic MP in the Danish parliament told news agency AFP.
Chemnitz described the apology as the “second step” in a broader reconciliation process, after Frederiksen issued an initial written apology in August.
The controversial contraception campaign, run by Danish authorities between 1966 and 1992, aimed to lower the Inuit birth rate. Many of the affected women were left infertile, and almost all suffered lasting physical or psychological trauma.
The issue resurfaced after one of the victims publicly shared her story, followed by a 2022 podcast series that revealed the full extent of the programme. A joint investigation by the Danish and Greenlandic governments was launched and has now been completed.
Reconciliation Fund To Compensate Discriminated Greenlanders
In addition to the formal apology, Frederiksen this week announced the creation of a “reconciliation fund” to provide compensation not only to the women directly affected, but also to other Greenlanders who faced discrimination due to their Inuit identity.
“It’s very good news because my clients are not satisfied with just an apology,” said lawyer Mads Pramming, who represents around 150 women suing the Danish state.
“The timing is good. She would not have been warmly welcomed if she hadn’t suggested (the compensation) in advance,” Pramming added.
Chemnitz noted that Denmark’s shift in tone may have been influenced by increased international interest in Greenland, especially from the United States.
“It’s the external pressure, especially from the United States, that is forcing Denmark to increase its efforts,” she said. “I’ve been an MP for 10 years and I’ve never seen so much effort until now.”
The issue of forced contraception is one of several historic injustices in Denmark’s relationship with its autonomous Arctic territory. Other grievances include forced adoptions and the removal of Inuit children from their families.
Historian Astrid Andersen from the Danish Institute for International Studies noted a clear change in attitude. “In the past, the Danish prime ministers have always been extremely reluctant to acknowledge injustices committed in Greenland. They argued there was nothing to apologise for,” she said.
A separate legal inquiry is ongoing to determine whether the contraception campaign could legally be defined as genocide. Its findings are expected in early 2026.
“At this point, it is important to many Greenlanders to mourn as a community and to have full recognition of this horrible thing that happened,” Andersen added.
(With inputs from AFP)
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
Denmark
September 24, 2025, 23:28 IST
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