Forced contraception of Inuit women in Greenland is documented in an independent investigation, confirming that more than 350 girls and women were fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs) or given hormonal injections without consent in the late 1960s and 1970s by Danish health authorities. The stated aim at the time was to curb population growth on the Arctic island; the practice has left lasting physical and psychological harm.
What the investigation found
The inquiry recorded testimonies from 354 women, now aged 48–89, who were subjected to procedures as adolescents and young adults—almost all between 12 and 37 years old, and at least one under 12. Most cases occurred in Greenland.
While the report reflects only those who came forward, Danish authorities have previously estimated more than 4,000 affected, with other counts pointing to around 4,500 women and girls—close to half of Greenland’s fertile female population at the time.
Medical harm and survivors’ testimony
Victims described pain, bleeding, infections and long-term complications after the insertion of coils, alongside trauma, shame and loss of trust in public services. Several accounts recall procedures performed without adequate information and without parental consent for minors.
The report highlights the continuing need for specialised health and mental‑health support and for transparent access to medical records.
Apologies and a September 24 ceremony
The governments of Denmark and Greenland issued a formal apology in late August 2025. An official event marking the apology is scheduled for 24 September 2025 at Katuaq in Nuuk, with the participation of Denmark’s Prime Minister (Statsministeren) and the head of Greenland’s government (Naalakkersuisut). The apology acknowledges state responsibility and the systemic discrimination that enabled the programme.
Compensation claims and legal pathways
A group of approximately 140 Inuit women has filed a civil action seeking about €5.8 million in compensation for violations of their human rights. The government in Copenhagen has pledged to evaluate financial redress mechanisms in light of the investigation’s findings, while ongoing lawsuits continue independently of the political process.
How the case came to light
The controversy—known in Danish as “spiralsagen” or “spiralkampagnen”—entered national debate after survivors began speaking publicly and investigative journalism unearthed archival material. A widely followed public‑service podcast in 2022 helped bring forward testimonies and accelerated calls for a joint Danish‑Greenlandic inquiry launched in 2023.
Colonial legacies and the Danish Realm
The programme forms part of a wider colonial legacy affecting Greenlanders within the Danish Realm (Rigsfællesskabet), which also includes past family separations and controversial parental‑competency tests. Greenland became a Danish province in 1953, obtained home rule in 1979 and self‑government in 2009; responsibility for healthcare was transferred to Greenland on 1 January 1992.
The report’s publication intensifies debate across the Nordic region and the EU over historic injustices, informed consent, and reproductive rights for Indigenous peoples.
