Indigenous women in Greenland sue Denmark over involuntary contraception in the 60s and 70s

A group of Indigenous women in Greenland have sued Denmark for forcing them to be fitted with intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) in the 60s and 70s, and demanded total compensation of nearly 43 million kroner ($6.3 million), Danish media has reported.

The group of 143 Inuit women say Danish health authorities violated their human rights when they fitted them with the devices, commonly known as coils. Some of the women — including many who were teenagers at the time — were not aware of what happened or did not consent to the intervention.

The purpose was allegedly to limit population growth in Greenland by preventing pregnancy. The population on the Arctic island was rapidly increasing at the time because of better living conditions and better health care.

The small T-shaped device, made from plastic and copper, and fitted in the uterus, prevents sperm from fertilising an egg.

Danish authorities say that as many as 4,500 women and girls — reportedly half of the fertile women in Greenland — received coil implants between the 60s and mid-70s.

In September 2022, the governments of Denmark and Greenland launched an investigation into the program. The outcome of the probe is due in 2025.

But the women's lawyer, Mads Pramming, said they won't wait until then, adding that the only option for the women is to seek justice through the court.

"My clients believe they were subject to a human rights violation because they have had IUDs inserted against their will, and in most cases when they were children," Mr Pramming told the Reuters news agency on Monday.

The summons was formally submitted against Denmark's health ministry.

Health Minister Sophie Lohde said in a statement: "This is a deeply unfortunate case that we must get to the bottom of, and therefore an independent investigation has also been initiated."

'We cannot wait any longer'

One of the women, Naja Lyberth, told Greenland public broadcaster KNR: "The oldest of us are over 80 years old, and therefore we cannot wait any longer.

Ms Lyberth was 14 when she had a coil fitted and was among the first to talk about it.

The Danish government has offered psychiatric counselling to those affected.

The case is one of several that have emerged in recent years with allegations of misconduct by Danish authorities against the people of its former colony.

Denmark publicly apologised in 2022 to the victims of a 50s experiment in which children from Greenland were taken to Denmark.

In October, the group of women who are now in their 70s and 80s sought 300,000 Danish crowns each in compensation.

Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 but is now a semi-sovereign territory of Denmark, with a population of just 57,000.

In 1979, the island was granted home rule, and 30 years later, Greenland became a self-governing entity. But Denmark retains control over its foreign and defence affairs.

In 1992, Greenland took over control of the health sector from Copenhagen.

AP/Reuters