On September 24, 2025, in Nuuk, Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen delivered a historic apology to Greenlandic women and girls who, decades ago, were subjected to forced contraception under Denmark’s administration of Greenland’s healthcare system. The apology came after years of silence over a deeply troubling chapter in Greenland’s history.
Between 1966 and 1991, while Denmark controlled Greenland’s healthcare policies, thousands of women and girls, some as young as 12, were fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs) without their knowledge or consent.
This program, aimed at limiting population growth, disproportionately targeted Greenland’s Indigenous Inuit population. For many victims, the experience left lasting physical and psychological scars, including trauma and infertility.
Greenland gained control over its healthcare system only in 1991, yet the effects of these policies continued to reverberate for generations.
Women like Naja Lyberth, a Greenlandic women’s rights advocate and survivor of the forced contraception program, who was fitted with an IUD at the age of 14, have long spoken out about the pain and injustice caused by these coercive practices.
Lyberth was present at the ceremony in Nuuk, underscoring the personal impact of Frederiksen’s apology.
In her address, Prime Minister Frederiksen acknowledged the gravity of Denmark’s actions, describing them as a “betrayal” with “major consequences for Greenlandic girls.”
She emphasized that confronting such dark chapters was essential for building trust and fostering a more equal relationship between Denmark and Greenland.
The ceremony also included Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, highlighting the collaborative acknowledgment of past wrongs.
Alongside the apology, Denmark announced plans to establish a reconciliation fund to compensate victims financially.
While this step has been welcomed as a move toward justice, critics argue that more comprehensive measures are necessary to fully address the historical and ongoing impacts of the forced contraception program.
The apology marks a pivotal moment in Danish-Indigenous relations, recognizing the trauma inflicted by colonial-era policies.
For survivors, it is a step toward healing, yet the legacy of this dark chapter continues to remind both nations of the importance of bodily autonomy, human rights and the enduring need for reconciliation.