Copenhagen/Nuuk – In a landmark gesture, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has publicly apologized to women subjected to forced sterilization under Danish policies between the 1960s and early 1990s. The apology came during her visit to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, where many of the victims belong to the Inuit community.
Prime Minister Frederiksen, visibly moved, acknowledged Denmark’s “dark chapter” and the immense suffering it caused. “We cannot change what happened, but we can take responsibility,” she said on September 24, offering an apology on behalf of Denmark.
From 1960 to 1991, thousands of women and young girls, some as young as 12, were subjected to invasive birth control procedures without consent. Medical records reveal that intrauterine devices (IUDs), often referred to as copper-Ts, were implanted in schoolgirls during routine health checkups. Others were given hormonal injections, all without the approval of the girls or their families.
According to official reports, nearly 4,500 Inuit women were forcibly fitted with contraceptive devices between the 1960s and 1992. The controversial policy aimed to curb population growth in Greenland and was seen as part of Denmark’s broader colonial-era strategies.
The revelations sparked outrage, and around 150 women have since filed lawsuits against the Danish government, accusing it of severe human rights violations. The legal proceedings are ongoing.
Human rights groups have hailed Frederiksen’s apology as a crucial step toward justice and reconciliation, but they stress that accountability and reparations remain necessary to fully address the long-standing trauma.
The case continues to resonate across Denmark and Greenland, exposing a painful legacy of coercive practices against vulnerable communities.
