Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a long-awaited apology to Greenland over the country’s painful legacy of mistreatment, including forced birth control practices against Indigenous Inuit women and girls for decades. The practice, known as the “Spiral Case,” involved inserting intrauterine devices in Greenlandic women and girls without their consent, leading to health complications and infertility.
The scandal has been ongoing for years, with many patients being left uninformed about the devices inserted into their bodies. Some learned only years later when they experienced health issues, while others were left infertile for life. The practice was widely criticized as a form of systematic discrimination against Greenlanders.
Denmark colonized Greenland over three centuries ago, and the legacy of this colonialism continues to affect the island nation today. On Wednesday, Frederiksen acknowledged that Denmark cannot change the past but can take responsibility for its actions. She also stated that an independent investigation into the matter began in 2022 will be completed soon.
Greenland’s prime minister Jens Frederik Nielsen was less than impressed with the apology, saying “It is too late and not good enough.” Other politicians called for reparations, stating that it’s time for Denmark to compensate the women who were affected. The campaign against forced birth control practices started in the 1960s and involved thousands of Greenlandic women and girls.
Ullat Bach, a retired teacher from Nuuk, spoke about her experience with an involuntary IUD insertion at age 13, which led to infertility issues years later. She expressed relief that the government has finally acknowledged its wrongdoing, saying “This is a big day for me.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/world/europe/denmark-involuntary-birth-control-greenland-apology.html