When Keira's daughter was born last November, she was given two hours with her before the baby was taken into care. Right when she came out, I started counting the minutes, Keira, 39, recalls. I kept looking at the clock to see how long we had. When the moment came for Zammi to be taken from her arms, Keira says she sobbed uncontrollably, whispering sorry to her baby. It felt like a part of my soul died. Now Keira is one of many Greenlandic families living on the Danish mainland who are fighting to get their children returned to them after they were removed by social services.
In such cases, babies and children were taken away after parental competency tests - known in Denmark as FKUs - were used to help assess whether they were fit to be parents. In May this year the Danish government banned the use of these tests on Greenlandic families after decades of criticism, although they continue to be used on other families in Denmark. The assessments, which usually take months to complete, are used in complex welfare cases where authorities believe children are at risk of neglect or harm.
The tests include interviews with parents and children, cognitive tasks, general knowledge quizzes, and personality assessments. Defenders say they provide objective analysis, but critics argue that they fail to predict parenting capability and are rooted in Danish cultural bias, often leading to misunderstandings when administered in the Danish language instead of Kalaallisut, the mother tongue of most Greenlanders.
The Danish Centre for Social Research reports that Greenlandic parents are 5.6 times more likely to have children taken into care. Although the government promised to review around 300 cases involving Greenlandic children, only 10 cases had been reviewed by October, with no children returned.
Keira's 2024 assessment concluded she lacked sufficient parental competencies, based on questions ranging from general knowledge to her ability to interact during a simulated play scenario. The government is now reviewing whether mistakes were made in administering these tests to Greenlandic people as part of a broader commitment to justice for families affected by this system.
As Keira awaits the possibility of being reunited with her child, she diligently prepares for Zammi's first birthday, a hopeful reminder of her enduring love and determination to reclaim her family.
In such cases, babies and children were taken away after parental competency tests - known in Denmark as FKUs - were used to help assess whether they were fit to be parents. In May this year the Danish government banned the use of these tests on Greenlandic families after decades of criticism, although they continue to be used on other families in Denmark. The assessments, which usually take months to complete, are used in complex welfare cases where authorities believe children are at risk of neglect or harm.
The tests include interviews with parents and children, cognitive tasks, general knowledge quizzes, and personality assessments. Defenders say they provide objective analysis, but critics argue that they fail to predict parenting capability and are rooted in Danish cultural bias, often leading to misunderstandings when administered in the Danish language instead of Kalaallisut, the mother tongue of most Greenlanders.
The Danish Centre for Social Research reports that Greenlandic parents are 5.6 times more likely to have children taken into care. Although the government promised to review around 300 cases involving Greenlandic children, only 10 cases had been reviewed by October, with no children returned.
Keira's 2024 assessment concluded she lacked sufficient parental competencies, based on questions ranging from general knowledge to her ability to interact during a simulated play scenario. The government is now reviewing whether mistakes were made in administering these tests to Greenlandic people as part of a broader commitment to justice for families affected by this system.
As Keira awaits the possibility of being reunited with her child, she diligently prepares for Zammi's first birthday, a hopeful reminder of her enduring love and determination to reclaim her family.
