Greenland's Justice Ministry Says Genocide Question Still Unresolved
Greenland's justice minister, Marianne Paviasen, said the government cannot yet confirm whether the forced contraception program that replaced Inuit women with IUDs in the 1960s and 1970s constitutes genocide.
On Friday, two expert panels published reports after examining the use of intra‑uterine devices (IUDs) on 4,500 Greenlandic women and girls between 1966 and 1970. The first study, conducted by American lawyer Dalee Sambo Dorough and University of Copenhagen professor Miriam Cullen, acknowledged that rights were violated but stopped short of declaring genocide.
The second report, prepared by former head of the Danish Institute for Human Rights Jonas Christoffersen and psychologist Jensine Nedergaard, found no evidence that any authority intended to "destroy the Greenlandic population".
The Danish parliament has since passed a compensation bill, granting 300,000 Danish crowns to each affected woman, and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has pledged joint action with Greenland.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen announced a "reconciliation commission" to address the fallout, while Justice Minister Paviasen stated the unresolved findings "allow for continued debate."
Victims remain strongly dissatisfied, citing lack of consent and describing the policy as an inhumane tactic. Henriette Berthelsen, one survivor, emphasized that her body, life and self‑determination were neglected.
Related topics in this live coverage include Greenland, Denmark, and the legacy of the birth‑control campaign. Stay tuned as we provide continual updates on the political and humanitarian developments.
