NextFin news, On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen traveled to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, to offer a formal apology to the victims of a forced contraception program imposed by Danish authorities over more than three decades.
The program, which ran from the late 1960s until 1992, involved forcibly fitting approximately 4,500 Inuit women—about half of those of childbearing age—with intrauterine devices (IUDs) without their consent. The initiative aimed to reduce the Inuit birth rate in Greenland.
Many of the women subjected to this policy suffered lasting physical and psychological harm, with numerous cases resulting in sterility. The forced contraception has been described as a grave violation of human rights and bodily autonomy.
The apology event took place in Nuuk at 2 p.m. local time and was attended by Greenlandic and Danish officials, including Greenland’s parliamentary representative in the Danish parliament, Aaja Chemnitz, who described the occasion as an important step in the reconciliation process.
Ms. Chemnitz noted that the apology follows a written statement issued by Prime Minister Frederiksen in late August 2025 and precedes the establishment of a reconciliation fund announced on September 22 to compensate victims and others who suffered discrimination due to their Inuit heritage.
The forced contraception scandal has strained relations between Denmark and its autonomous territory Greenland, alongside other sensitive issues such as forced adoptions and the removal of Greenlandic Inuit children from their families.
The revelation of the program came to public attention several years ago when a victim spoke out about her trauma, followed by a 2022 podcast series that detailed the extent of the campaign. Subsequently, an independent inquiry was launched by the Danish and Greenlandic governments, confirming the widespread nature of the abuses.
A separate legal inquiry is ongoing to determine whether the forced contraception campaign constitutes genocide under international law, with a report expected in early 2026.
The apology and compensation efforts have been partly attributed to increased international attention on Greenland, including statements by U.S. officials emphasizing the strategic importance of the Arctic region.
Lawyer Mads Pramming, representing about 150 victims who have sued the Danish state, welcomed the apology and compensation plans, emphasizing that victims seek more than just words—they want tangible reparations.
Historian Astrid Andersen of the Danish Institute for International Studies highlighted that previous Danish prime ministers had been reluctant to acknowledge these injustices, making the current apology a significant departure from past government positions.
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