Denmark and Greenland Confront Dark Legacy of Forced Contraception

 

                                           Contact committee meeting at the Faroe Islands 

In a historic joint statement, Denmark and Greenland have formally apologised to Greenlandic Indigenous women subjected to decades of involuntary birth control procedures. Between the 1960s and early 1990s, thousands of women and girls — some as young as 13 — were fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs) without their knowledge or consent.

The campaign, which reportedly affected nearly half of Greenland’s fertile female population at the time, was aimed at curbing population growth on the Arctic island. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen acknowledged the severe physical and psychological harm caused, stating, “We cannot change what has happened. But we can take responsibility. Therefore, on behalf of Denmark, I would like to say: Sorry”.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also recognised his government’s role and confirmed plans to compensate victims. The apology comes ahead of an official investigative report due next month, which is expected to shed further light on the decision-making behind the policy.

The episode adds to a series of historical grievances between Denmark and Greenland, underscoring the lasting impact of colonial-era policies on Indigenous communities.