Did Denmark commit genocide in Greenland? Report on forced contraceptions expected
A commission in Greenland is set to present a highly anticipated report examining whether Denmark's forced contraception of thousands of Indigenous Inuit women constituted genocide.
Copenhagen, Denmark - A Greenlandic commission is set to release a report on Friday, examining if Denmark's forced contraception of thousands of Inuit women from the 1960s to 1990s constitutes genocide. The campaign, one of the darkest chapters in Greenland's history, involved more than 4,000 women being given intrauterine devices (IUDs) without their consent, often without informing their parents if they were minors.
Greenland, once a Danish colony for three centuries, remains in a complex relationship with Copenhagen, with both sides rejecting US President Donald Trump's threats to take over the Arctic territory. The five-member commission, appointed in August 2024, has yet to agree on how to proceed, having submitted two reports nearly six months late.
The campaign affected girls as young as 12, some of whom were unable to conceive after the IUDs. Nuuk and Copenhagen have also addressed other painful historical issues, including children adopted without parental consent. The Danish parliament has agreed to allow women affected by the forced contraception to seek compensation from Copenhagen, following Denmark's official apology last year.
The campaign's revelations have reignited trauma that had been buried for decades, with one victim expressing the lasting impact on her health and well-being.
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