67 women from Greenland want the Danish government to pay them for being given birth control without their consent in the 1960s.
In the 1960s, over 4,500 women, including some teenagers, in Greenland were given birth control devices without their permission. This was done to reduce the number of indigenous people. A group of these women, some now in their 70s, want compensation of 300,000 kroner each. Greenland used to be a Danish colony until 1953, and now it’s semi-independent.
Last year, a podcast by Danish broadcaster DR revealed the extent of this campaign. Records from the national archives show that between 1966 and 1970, intrauterine devices (IUDs) were implanted in these women, some as young as 13, without their knowing. The Greenland government estimates that by the end of 1969, 35% of women who could have had children in the area had an IUD. A commission formed by both Danish and Greenlandic governments is investigating, but its findings won’t be out until May 2025. The women don’t want to wait and are asking for compensation now.
They believe the government of that time wanted to control Greenland’s population to save money on welfare. Some women suffered health problems or infertility due to wrongly sized devices, and others didn’t know about the IUDs until recently.
The women’s lawyer has submitted a claim to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s office. They expect the government to say no until the commission reports, and if so, they plan to take the matter to court.
Last year, Denmark apologized and compensated six Inuit people who were taken from their families in the 1950s. This was part of an effort to create a Danish-speaking elite in Greenland.
Greenland has a population of around 57,000 and is the world’s largest island. It has its own flag, language, and prime minister, but Denmark still controls the currency, justice system, and foreign and security affairs.
SOURCE:BBC