Danish PM supports Greenland’s reconciliation commission plan

Decades of forced contraception for Inuit women

Sep 1, 2026

Greenland said it would establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Denmark’s forced contraception of thousands of Indigenous people, after experts failed to agree on whether the scheme constituted “genocide.”

The forced Inuit contraception campaign is one of the darkest chapters in Greenland’s history with its former colonial power Denmark.

Continued: https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-london-free-press/20260901/281767046088537

02.09.2026

News

Greenland

Henriette Berthelsen

Jens-Frederik Nielsen

Kirstine Najarak Berthelsen

Marianne Paviasen

Mette Frederiksen

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Greenland reports were split on whether forced contraception of Indigenous women, girls constituted genocide

When pressed by journalists during a news conference, leaders would not say whether a genocide had occurred

By The Canadian Press
Aug 28, 2026

Two reports investigating the forcible contraception of thousands of Indigenous women and girls in Greenland by Danish health authorities for decades were split over whether the practice constituted genocide.

The Greenlandic government, which commissioned the inquiry, released the reports Friday but, when pressed by journalists during a news conference, would not say whether its leaders concluded whether a genocide had occurred.

The government told the authors to use the definition under the United Nations’ 1948 genocide convention, which includes “imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.”

Continued: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/greenland-reports-were-split-on-whether-forced-contraception-of-indigenous-women-girls-constituted-genocide/

28.08.2026

Jens-Frederik Nielsen

Naaja H. Nathanielsen

What to know as Greenland presents its forced contraception reports this week

Roselyne Min
Tue, 25 August 2026

Greenland will present two long-awaited reports on Friday 28 August examining human rights violations linked to historic cases in which Greenlandic women and girls were subjected to the insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs) and other forms of contraception, including whether Denmark's actions could meet the legal definition of genocide.

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a form of contraception placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. More than 4,000 Greenlandic women and girls had IUDs inserted during a Danish-led contraception campaign that began in the 1960s, with many later saying they had not been properly informed or had not consented.

continued; https://sg.news.yahoo.com/know-greenland-presents-forced-contraception-130753169.html

25.08.2026

Denmark will compensate Greenlandic women and girls who were forcibly given contraception

By The Associated Press
Dec 10, 2025

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark has reached a deal to compensate thousands of Indigenous women and girls in Greenland over cases of forcible contraception carried out by health authorities over decades starting in the 1960s.

The Danish health ministry said Wednesday that women who were given contraception against their knowledge or consent between 1960 and 1991 can apply for individual payouts of 300,000 Danish kroner (about $46,000) starting next April.

Continued: https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/12/10/denmark-will-compensate-greenlandic-women-and-girls-who-were-forcibly-given-contraception/

10.12.2025

Faroe Islands scraps one of Europe’s strictest abortion laws

Dec 4, 2025
Adrienne Murray

The parliament of the Faroe Islands voted on Thursday to legalise abortion until the end of the 12th week of pregnancy, overturning a decades-old law that prohibited abortions in most cases.

Previous legislation allowed abortions only in certain circumstances - such as rape, incest or risk to the health of the pregnant woman - and meant the self-governing Danish territory had among the most restrictive abortion policies in Europe.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyd8j71m7mo

05.12.2025

News

abortion law reform

Amnesty International

Bjørt Lind

Centre for Reproductive Rights

Faroe Islands: Vote to amend outdated law “an important step towards safe and legal abortion”

4 December 2025
Amnesty International

Reacting to today’s vote by the Faroese parliament (the ‘Lagtinget’/‘Løgting’) to amend the law to permit access to abortion on request up until the end of the twelfth week of pregnancy, Turið Maria, Director of Amnesty International Faroe Islands said:   

“Today’s vote amending the Faroe Islands’ deeply outdated and restrictive abortion law is an important step towards ensuring the provision of safe and legal abortion.   

Continued: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/12/faroe-islands-vote-to-amend-outdated-law-an-important-step-towards-safe-and-legal-abortion/

04.12.2025

Commentary

News

abortion law reform

Amnesty International

Faroe Islands

Turið Maria Jóhansdóttir

Denmark’s PM apologizes in person to Greenland women over forced contraception

Thomson Reuters
Thursday, September 25, 2025

Denmark’s prime minister apologized in person on Wednesday to women who were victims of a decades-long involuntary birth control campaign, which has left islanders with deep scars and strained relations with their former colonial power.

Thousands of women and girls as young as 12 were fitted with intrauterine devices without their knowledge or consent between 1966 and 1991, the year Greenland was given authority over its healthcare system.

Continued: https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/2025/09/25/denmarks-pm-apologizes-in-person-to-greenland-women-over-forced-contraception/

25.09.2025

News

coerced contraception

Greenland

Jens-Frederik Nielsen

The fight for safe and legal abortions in the EU remains

24 September
by Thea Jürgensen

The European Union is based on key values such as freedom and equality. These values should apply to every citizen, no matter the gender. Even though it’s 2025 and men and women should have the same rights, there is still some work to be done to make sure that everyone is free and equal.

Women across Europe are still fighting for their reproductive rights and access to legal abortions. The absence of access to safe abortions services contributes to women being forced into motherhood or losing their lives due to being denied the procedure. However, European countries have adopted different approaches in this regard.

Continued; https://www.treffpunkteuropa.de/the-fight-for-safe-and-legal-abortions-in-the-eu-remains?lang=fr

24.09.2025

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Over 350 Greenlandic women and girls forcibly given contraception by Danish officials, report says

By The Associated Press
September 09, 2025

COPENHAGEN, Denmark— More than 350 Greenlandic Indigenous women and girls, including some 12 years old and younger, reported that they were forcibly given contraception by Danish health authorities in cases that date back to the 1960s, according to an independent investigation’s findings released Tuesday.

The Inuit victims, many of them teenagers at the time, were either fitted with intrauterine contraceptive devices, known as IUDs or coils, or given a hormonal birth control injection. They were not told details about the procedure, or did not give their consent.

Continued: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/over-350-greenlandic-women-and-girls-forcibly-given-contraception-by-danish-officials-report-says/

09.09.2025

Denmark and Greenland apologize for painful legacy of forced Inuit contraception

By The Associated Press
Aug 27, 2025

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday officially apologized for their roles in the historic mistreatment of Greenlandic Indigenous girls and women, including forced contraception, in cases that date back to the 1960s.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland, said the issue represented “a dark chapter in our history.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that although the past could not be changed, “we can take responsibility.”

Nearly 150 Inuit women last year sued Denmark and filed compensation claims against its health ministry, saying Danish health authorities violated their human rights when they fitted them with intrauterine contraceptive devices, known as IUDs or coils.

Continued: https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-forced-contraception-inuit-apology-38f6770fe8c4064dc8cece7d9498b2f4

27.08.2025