The Danish authorities wanted to limit the population of Greenlanders in this way (recall that Greenland is an autonomous territory that politically depends on Denmark), which was growing at a record pace in the mid-1960s. According to “Arctic Today”, the Danes were also “worried” by the fact that as part of the progressive birth rate in Greenland, the number of independent mothers was increasing. It is estimated that between 1966 and 1970, doctors inserted intrauterine devices into 4.5 thousand women without their consent, and most often without their knowledge.
“IUDs were often placed on young teenagers without their consent and without the consent of their parents, and sometimes even without their knowledge,” writes “The Guardian”. Now the women whose rights were violated in such an unprecedented way are demanding compensation from the Danish government. A total of 67 injured Greenlandic women are demanding compensation in the amount of 30,000 crowns, which amounts to approximately PLN 18,000 for each of them.
“We were put in pads without our knowledge”
“The Guardian” quotes Naja Lyberth, the first woman to reveal that she had an intrauterine device installed when she was just 14 years old. She emphasizes that the injured Greenlandic women still struggle with health problems resulting from the procedure.
IUDs were placed on us without our knowledge, thus limiting our fertility for a shorter or longer period
– she said. She also added that “the first step towards healing” is for the current government to acknowledge Denmark’s guilt. The case is under investigation, initiated in spring 2023. The results of the proceedings are to be communicated to the public in May 2025, we read.
It is also worth emphasizing that the contemporary Danish authorities have not yet officially explained why such a practice was used at the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. According to the local website “Arctic Today”, several decades ago, doctors in Greenland used only one type of IUD, the size of which was too large for teenagers. This caused additional health complications, such as infections and irritations, and often exposed women to sexual problems and infertility.
Sources: Arctic Today.com/The Guardian
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
