In a deeply emotional address, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen offered a formal apology to the women of Greenland affected by a controversial birth control program that saw thousands of Inuit women and girls forcibly fitted with contraceptive coils in the 1960s and 70s. Speaking in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, Frederiksen stated, “Dear women. Dear families. Dear Greenland. Today there is only one right thing to say to you. Sorry.” She continued, “Sorry for the injustice that was committed against you. Because you were Greenlanders. Sorry for what was taken from you. And for the pain it caused. On behalf of Denmark. Sorry.”
During the event, one woman stood in silent protest, her mouth covered with a painted handprint, as the Prime Minister spoke. Naja Lyberth, one of the first to publicly speak out about the scandal, received a standing ovation and emphasized the apology’s crucial role in moving forward, stating, “If we are to move forward, the apology is crucial.”
An inquiry earlier this month revealed that around 4,000 women and girls, some as young as 12, had IUDs implanted without their knowledge or consent. While welcoming the apology, some, like Elisa Christensen, expressed disappointment that no mention of compensation was made, feeling the words were “almost like empty words.” Frederiksen did announce plans for a “reconciliation fund,” but details remain unclear.
Greenland, formerly a Danish colony, has seen its relationship with Denmark strained by historical controversies, including forced adoptions and recent cases of child removals. The Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, acknowledged the scandal as one of the country’s darkest chapters, highlighting the silencing and disregard faced by the victims.