Victims of a historical program in which thousands comprising Inuit females, some minors reportedly were covertly implanted using contraceptive coils without their knowledge or consent are declaring victory following their court battle with the Danish government.
It has been confirmed that they are now eligible for compensation via a reconciliation package.
The Danish parliament, along with the government, finalized a deal that entitles approximately 4,500 affected individuals to claim 300,000 DKK (£35,000) per person.
The decision comes after a three-year campaign by a group of women who initiated legal proceedings seeking damages over the trauma and distress they had endured, arguing it constituted a breach of their human rights.
The Danish state administered Greenland as a colony until 1953 maintaining control of its medical services until 1992.
In September, following a long period where it did not acknowledge the violations, the government issued a formal expression of regret. The country's leader apologized for the “systemic discrimination” targeting women and girls by the Danish healthcare system.
“These actions caused major impacts for the affected women who have experienced not only bodily and psychological harm,” said a government minister.
The health ministry clarified those who were given contraception without their knowledge or consent during a thirty-one year period would be able to apply for payment starting next year. The law is set to be enacted by mid-year.
According to the findings from a independent inquiry into contraceptive practices from that era, roughly 4,500 individuals are potentially entitled to the fund.
To qualify, applicants must:
A women, who was 14 when she was told to go to the hospital without explanation, said the experience like a violation.
“Speaking out as speakers and interviewees has been successful,” she said. “It began in 2022 resulting in a relatively short time we got an apology plus financial acknowledgment.”
Another voice shared satisfaction, saying, “This is a positive outcome. As my mother put it: we won.” While some believe the amount should have been greater, there is contentment over the acknowledgment of what happened.
An Inuit minister called the compensation as “well past due”. She emphasized, “It is not primarily financial. It is about formal acknowledgment of the hurt and the very severe implications.”
A Danish health minister acknowledged these events represent a “dark chapter in our joint past”, adding that compensation “will not erase the pain from the women” yet it “serves to acknowledge and apologise for what they endured.”
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