Greenlandic Women Claim Judicial Victory over Battle with Denmark regarding Forced IUD Scandal.
Victims of a historical program where numerous comprising Inuit females, some minors reportedly were forcibly fitted using intrauterine devices (IUDs) without their knowledge or consent have claimed a win in their legal fight with Copenhagen.
It has been confirmed that they will be eligible for compensation from a settlement fund.
Parliamentary Settlement Finalized
Folketinget, and state authorities, reached an agreement that entitles approximately four thousand five hundred Greenlandic women the right to seek 300,000 DKK (£35,000) per person.
This announcement follows a lengthy battle by a group of claimants who filed a lawsuit seeking damages for the trauma and distress they had endured, which they said constituted a breach of their personal rights.
Colonial Context
The Danish state administered the territory as a colony until 1953 maintaining control of the island's medical services until 1992.
Earlier this year, after years of failing to address these actions, the government issued a formal official apology. The prime minister expressed sorrow over the “institutional prejudice” targeting Greenlandic females by the state medical apparatus.
“These actions caused significant impacts on the Greenlandic women who suffered both bodily and psychological harm,” stated the government minister.
Compensation Process Outlined
The health ministry stated that women who were given the procedure covertly between 1960 and 1991 would be able to seek compensation starting next year. The law is set to be enacted by mid-year.
Based on results from a independent inquiry of medical procedures during that time, roughly four and a half thousand women are potentially entitled to compensation.
To qualify, the women will need to:
- Submit a “plausible account” detailing what happened.
- Have lived in Greenland during the specified timeframe.
- State under oath that they had no knowledge or consent for the procedure.
Voices from the Victims
A plaintiffs, who was fourteen when she was told to report for medical attention for no clear reason, described it like a violation.
“Speaking out as speakers and interviewees has been effective,” she said. “We started two years ago resulting in a relatively short time we have secured an apology and financial acknowledgment.”
A different perspective shared happiness, saying, “This is a positive outcome. As my mother put it: it's a victory.” While there is a view the amount could have been greater, there is contentment regarding the recognition of past events.
Official Reactions
A Greenlandic official described the settlement being “well past due”. Stating clearly, “This isn't about the money. It concerns recognition of the hurt and the profound consequences.”
The relevant cabinet member acknowledged the scandal represent a “dark chapter within the joint past”, noting while redress “cannot remove the suffering from the women” but it “serves to acknowledge and express regret over what they endured.”