Greenlandic Women Achieve Judicial Victory in Battle against the Danish State over Coerced IUD Affair.

Survivors from a past program where numerous of Inuit females, some minors were forcibly fitted using intrauterine devices (IUDs) without their knowledge or consent have claimed a win following their legal fight against the Danish government.

It has been confirmed that they will be eligible for compensation from a reconciliation package.

Government Settlement Reached

Folketinget, and state authorities, finalized a deal granting approximately four thousand five hundred affected individuals the right to seek 300,000 DKK (around thirty-five thousand pounds) per person.

The announcement comes after a lengthy battle by a group of women that initiated legal proceedings seeking damages for the pain and suffering they experienced, arguing it was a violation of their human rights.

Colonial Background

Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony for decades and retained authority over its medical services into the late 20th century.

In September, after years of failing to acknowledge these actions, the government made an official apology. The country's leader expressed sorrow for the “institutional prejudice” targeting Greenlandic females by the state medical apparatus.

“These actions caused major consequences for the Greenlandic women who suffered not only bodily but also psychological harm,” said a government minister.

Redress Procedure Outlined

The health ministry clarified that women who were given the procedure without their knowledge or consent during a thirty-one year period would be able to seek payment starting next year. Relevant legislation is set to be enacted in June.

According to results from a impartial inquiry into contraceptive practices from that era, an estimated 4,500 individuals may be entitled to compensation.

For eligibility, the women will need to:

• Submit a “plausible account” of the incident.
• Demonstrate they resided in Greenland throughout the qualifying period.
• Declare under oath that they possessed no awareness or consent for it to occur.

Perspectives from the Survivors

One of the women, who was fourteen when she was told to report to the hospital without explanation, said the experience as feeling an assault.

“Speaking out publicly and interviewees has been effective,” she said. “We started in 2022 and now a relatively short time we got an official apology and financial acknowledgment.”

A different perspective expressed satisfaction, stating, “We are happy. Like my mother said: we won.” While there is a view the compensation should have been greater, they expressed relief over the recognition of what happened.

Official Responses

A Greenlandic minister described the settlement being “long overdue”. She emphasized, “This isn't about the money. It concerns recognition of the hurt and its profound implications.”

A Danish health minister acknowledged the scandal represent a “dark chapter in our joint past”, noting while redress “cannot remove the suffering for survivors” yet it “helps to acknowledge and apologise for what they endured.”