In what can easily be called a shocking revelation, a group of 67 women from Greenland has come forward to seek compensation from the Danish government for a disturbing campaign of involuntary birth control. This shocking incident traces its history back to the 1960s and 70s, when at least 4,500 women, including teenagers, were subjected to the insertion of contraceptive devices without taking any prior consent and without any knowledge. This article sheds light on this distressing issue to tell you in-depth about the crimes that the civilized West has committed.
1) Historical Injustice: Greenland’s Painful Past
Greenland, now a semi-sovereign territory of Denmark, in 1953 was a Danish colony. The horrifying campaign of involuntary birth control that took place in the 1960s and 70s was exposed only recently, in a podcast published by Danish broadcaster DR. Shocking and eye-opening records from the national archives revealed that between 1966 and 1970 alone, 4,500 intrauterine devices (IUDs) were fitted into women, some as young as 13, without their consent. The government of Greenland estimates that, by the end of 1969, a staggering 35% of women in the territory who could potentially bear children had been fitted with an IUD, according to DR. This shameful practice is known to have continued until 1975 and, shockingly, even beyond that timeframe.
2) Lives Forever Altered: The Impact of Involuntary Birth Control
The ramifications of this cruel campaign are far-reaching and deeply distressing. One woman discovered she had been fitted with a coil when she struggled to become pregnant in 2009, while another revealed she had been injected with a contraceptive in 2014 without her consent. In some cases, these devices were too big for the girls’ bodies, causing serious health complications, infertility, or long-term damage. In other instances, women were completely unaware of the devices implanted until recent examinations by gynaecologists. This gross violation of their bodily autonomy and reproductive rights has had enduring consequences, both physically and emotionally.
3) Seeking Justice: The Women’s Quest for Compensation
In the face of this egregious injustice, psychologist Naja Lyberth, who initiated the compensation claim, asserted, “We don’t want to wait for the results of the inquiry. We are getting older. The oldest among us, who had IUDs inserted in the 1960s, were born in the 1940s and are approaching 80. We want to act now.” The women are seeking 300,000 kroner (£34,880; $42,150) each in compensation. Mads Pramming, the lawyer representing them, has already sent a claim to the office of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. While the government is expected to delay any response until the commission concludes its investigation, the women remain resolute in their pursuit of justice and are prepared to take legal action if necessary.
4) Reflections on Greenland: A Unique Territory
Greenland, with a population of just 57,000, is the largest island and the northernmost area of land in the world. It has its own flag, language, and prime minister, yet certain aspects of its governance remain under Danish control, including currency, the justice system, and foreign and security affairs. Last year, Denmark issued an apology and offered compensation to six Inuit individuals separated from their families in the 1950s as part of a misguided attempt to foster a Danish-speaking elite within Greenland. This dark chapter in Greenland’s history has left a lasting scar on the territory’s collective memory.
Conclusion:
The ordeal faced by the Greenland women who were subjected to involuntary birth control serves as a stark reminder of historical injustices that should be used as a lesson for the human race and must never be forgotten. As they seek compensation and justice, their resilience shines as a beacon of hope for a brighter and fairer future. This incident serves as a solemn reminder that even in the face of adversity, the pursuit of justice remains unwavering.
