Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has publicly apologized to women and families in Greenland for what she termed “systematic discrimination” during a contraceptive campaign in the 1960s and 70s. This program involved the placement of contraceptive devices in thousands of Inuit women and girls as young as 12, administered by Danish doctors. Frederiksen acknowledged the lasting physical and psychological harm caused by this action, stating, “We cannot change what has happened. But we can take responsibility.”
The harsh realities of this birth-control initiative were initially uncovered in 2022 through an investigative podcast titled Spiralkampagnen (the coil campaign). Reports indicated that many women had been fitted with intra-uterine devices (IUDs) without their consent. Historical records reveal that between 1966 and 1970, about 4,500 women and girls underwent this procedure, yet it remains unclear how many did so without proper consent. Numerous individuals have shared traumatic experiences, some reporting health complications and infertility. In response, a group of 143 women has filed a lawsuit against the Danish state, with the majority of them being minors at the time of the procedures.
Frederiksen stated the government’s acknowledgment of the emotional pain experienced by victims, attributing a sense of urgency to the formal inquiry underway, with findings expected soon. Former Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute B Egede previously labeled the campaign as “genocide.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also expressed the need for Denmark’s acknowledgment of its past actions, stating it was “about time” for an official apology. This incident is part of broader issues surrounding Denmark’s historical treatment of Greenlanders, which includes forced adoptions and the removal of Inuit children from their families. The investigation into the coil scandal aims to address these issues and ensure accountability for the past.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yelp5466no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss