Forced contraception of Greenland indigenous women and girls

Greenlandic Inuit women. UN News

Independent UN human rights experts have warned that attempts to downplay the forced contraception of thousands of Inuit women and girls in Greenland threaten any prospect of genuine redress.

The concerns follow a dissenting report by two former members of an expert group appointed by Greenland’s Government. 

It concluded there were no empirical grounds to assume that Danish or Greenlandic authorities intentionally and systematically inserted intrauterine devices without consent.

Facts before healing

The two governments have already recognised that the Indigenous women and girls endured the practice for decades in public care institutions and have apologised. 

But, the independent experts – who receive no salary for their work and are not UN staff – said true remedy cannot be achieved without “a clear, accurate and undisputed record of historical facts”.

They urged Denmark to make compensation schemes more accessible linguistically and culturally, ensure women with disabilities are not forgotten and address wider abuses such as forced adoption and the removal of Inuit children from their parents.

“Their dignity, voices and rights must remain at the centre of all efforts toward truth, justice, healing and reconciliation,” the Human Rights Council-appointed experts said. – UN News