Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen with Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during a joint statement at Marienborg, Denmark. (AP Photo)
More than 350 Indigenous women and girls in Greenland have revealed harrowing accounts of forced contraception at the hands of Danish health authorities. The shocking revelations, spanning back to the 1960s, were confirmed in a new independent investigation.
Girls as Young as 12 Subjected to Procedures
Many victims were teenagers when they were fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs), also called coils, or injected with hormonal contraceptives. In several cases, girls as young as 12 underwent the procedures. They were neither given full details nor asked for their consent.
For many, the experience was deeply traumatic. Survivors spoke of lasting shame, physical pain, bleeding, and even life-threatening infections.
A Government Apology, but Pain Remains
Both Denmark and Greenland officially apologized last month for their roles in the mistreatment. A public apology ceremony is scheduled for September 24 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
However, the apology does little to erase the scars. Last year, nearly 150 Inuit women filed lawsuits against Denmark, demanding compensation from its health ministry. That legal case is still ongoing.
Thousands More May Have Been Affected
While the report highlights 354 testimonies, the scale of the program was much wider. Danish authorities estimate that over 4,000 women and girls—almost half of Greenland’s fertile female population at the time—were given IUDs between the 1960s and mid-1970s.
The reported aim was to curb Greenland’s population growth, which was rising due to improved living conditions and healthcare.
Greenland assumed control of its healthcare system only in 1992, decades after these events.
A Dark History of Control
The investigation adds to Greenland’s painful colonial past. For centuries, Denmark imposed policies that stripped Inuit families of dignity and autonomy.
Children were taken from their parents and placed with Danish foster families in the name of “reeducation.” Controversial parental competency tests separated families. The contraception program was another chapter in this legacy of control.
Greenland’s Political Backdrop
The report arrives at a time when Greenland is increasingly in global focus. The island, rich in natural resources and strategically located in the Arctic, has drawn interest from world powers.
Despite outside ambitions, Greenland’s leaders and Denmark insist the island is not for sale or takeover.
Survivors Speak Out
The women who shared their stories with investigators are now between 48 and 89 years old. Most were between 12 and 37 when subjected to the procedures.
One victim was younger than 12. Her age was not disclosed in the report, to protect her identity.
Their voices carry decades of silence, now breaking through to the world.
