Denmark’s Dark Past: The Forced Birth Control of Greenland’s Indigenous Girls
Greenland has once again been in the headlines amid Trump’s vocal bid to buy the world’s largest island. But want doesn’t get attention is the dark past its native girls were subject to not too long ago…
Denmark, often praised for its progressive policies and social welfare, has a troubling history when it comes to its treatment of Greenland’s Indigenous population. One of the most egregious violations of human rights committed by the Danish government was the forced and secretive insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs) into thousands of Greenlandic women and girls as young as 12, without their knowledge or consent. This policy, carried out in the 1960s and 1970s, was part of an aggressive birth control strategy designed to limit the growth of the Inuit population.
The History
Denmark officially claimed Greenland as a colony in 1721, when Danish Norwegian missionary Hans Egede arrived to convert the Inuit population to Christianity. Greenland remained a Danish colony until 1953, when Denmark changed its status from a colony to an integrated part of the Danish kingdom. However, this was done without a referendum among Greenlanders, leading many to view it as a continuation of colonial rule under a different name.
In 1979, Greenland was granted home rule, giving it more political autonomy. (This expanded further in 2009 with self-rule, allowing Greenland to take over more responsibilities from Denmark, including control over its natural resources.)
Denmark still handles Greenland’s defense, foreign policy, and financial subsidies, making full independence a complex issue that is still debated today.
A Policy of Control
Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has long been subject to policies dictated by its former colonizer. In the mid-20th century, as Denmark sought to modernize Greenland and integrate it more closely into Danish society, officials viewed the Inuit population as an obstacle to development. They feared that high birth rates among Indigenous Greenlanders would lead to social and economic burdens.
In response, Danish health authorities implemented an extensive birth control campaign that targeted young Greenlandic girls and women without their knowledge or consent. Between 1966 and 1970, it is estimated that at least 4,500 women and girls—roughly half of all women of reproductive age in Greenland at the time—were fitted with IUDs, often during routine medical checkups. Many were never informed about the procedure or its long-term effects.
Why Did Denmark Do This?
The forced birth control campaign was rooted in a colonial mindset that viewed Indigenous populations as needing to be controlled and “civilized” for the benefit of the state. Danish authorities justified the program as a means of curbing overpopulation, improving economic stability, and reducing dependency on social welfare.
Nevertheless, these justifications ignored the fundamental human rights of Greenlandic women. The policy was not based on informed consent but on an assumption that Inuit women were incapable of making decisions about their own bodies. By forcibly inserting IUDs without consent, Denmark stripped these women of their autonomy and violated international human rights standards.
The Human Cost
For many Greenlandic women, the forced insertion of IUDs had lifelong consequences. Some suffered severe pain, infections, and other health complications. Others were left infertile, unable to have children when they later wished to do so. Beyond the physical impact, the psychological trauma of discovering years later that they had been subjected to a form of state-mandated reproductive control has left deep scars in Greenland’s Indigenous community.
The policy also reinforced a sense of powerlessness among Greenlanders, exacerbating the historical trauma. Many women only learned about the forced procedures decades later, leading to feelings of betrayal and anger toward both the Danish government and the Greenlandic medical professionals who carried out the orders.
Was It Legal?
By modern legal standards, Denmark’s actions would be considered a blatant violation of human rights and medical ethics. The forced insertion of IUDs without informed consent contravenes multiple international laws and agreements, including:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Denmark’s actions violated the right to bodily autonomy and protection from inhumane treatment.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979): This treaty, which Denmark later ratified, prohibits coercive reproductive practices.
The Nuremberg Code (1947): Following World War II, this code established ethical standards requiring informed consent in medical procedures, which Denmark blatantly ignored.
At the time, there were few protections for Indigenous rights in international law, and Denmark faced no immediate legal repercussions. However, in recent years, the Greenlandic government and affected women have demanded accountability.
The Fight for Justice
Denmark has only recently begun to acknowledge the harm it inflicted. In 2022, following growing public pressure and investigative reports, the Danish government announced an official inquiry into the IUD scandal. The investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the program and determine responsibility for the violations.
For many survivors an apology is not enough. Some have called for Denmark to be held accountable in international courts for its colonial abuses in Greenland.
A Legacy of Trauma
The IUD scandal is just one example of the broader colonial legacy that continues to shape Greenland’s relationship with Denmark. Even today, Greenland remains economically dependent on Denmark, and many Greenlanders feel that their voices are not fully heard in decisions affecting their land and people.
While Denmark has positioned itself as a champion of human rights on the global stage, its past actions in Greenland reveal a stark contradiction. The forced birth control program was not about empowering women but about controlling a population that Danish authorities deemed inconvenient.
(And for the record, Greenlanders voted this week to rebuff President Trump’s bid to control their icebound, mineral-rich island.) Greenlandic women deserve not just recognition of their suffering but the right to reclaim control over their futures.
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