Context:

An independent investigation revealed that over 350 Greenlandic Indigenous women and girls, some as young as 12, were forcibly given contraception by Danish health authorities from the 1960s, often without their consent or adequate information. The victims, primarily teenagers at the time, suffered from physical side effects and emotional trauma, prompting a formal apology from the Danish and Greenlandic governments. A lawsuit was filed last year by nearly 150 Inuit women against Denmark, claiming human rights violations, while more than 4,000 women and girls reportedly received IUDs during this period. The investigation highlights a broader pattern of dehumanizing policies by Denmark, including forced separations and reeducation of Inuit children. This historical mistreatment is part of a complex relationship between Greenland and Denmark, amidst geopolitical interests from countries like the United States in the strategically located Arctic island.

Dive Deeper:

• Between the 1960s and mid-1970s, more than 350 Greenlandic Indigenous women and girls were subjected to forced contraception by Danish authorities, often without their knowledge or consent, resulting in physical and emotional distress.

• Victims reported severe side effects from the procedures, including pain, bleeding, serious infections, and long-lasting emotional trauma, contributing to feelings of shame and violation.

• The Danish and Greenlandic governments issued an official apology for their roles in these historical abuses, acknowledging the impact on the victims and their communities, ahead of an anticipated report detailing these findings.

• A lawsuit was initiated by nearly 150 Inuit women against Denmark's health ministry, accusing it of human rights violations, with claims linked to the unauthorized contraception procedures.

• The investigation brought to light that Danish authorities had implemented these procedures on over 4,000 women and girls as part of a population control strategy, affecting half of Greenland's fertile female population at the time.

• These forced medical interventions are part of a larger pattern of colonial policies by Denmark that included separating Inuit children from their families for reeducation, reflecting a history of systemic dehumanization.

• This report emerges amid international interest in Greenland, particularly from the United States, as the island holds strategic and economic significance, while Denmark maintains its claim, asserting that Greenland is not for sale.