Dispute delays long-awaited report on Greenland’s forced IUD program

A government-commissioned investigation into whether human rights were violated in Greenland’s forced IUD program has been delayed after two experts broke from the group to publish their own report, *DR* reports.

The split follows “professional disagreements” within the expert panel, according to a statement from Naaja H. Nathanielsen, Greenland’s Minister of Justice. The original report, submitted to the government in early February, will now not be released until May.

Between the 1960s and 1970s, thousands of Greenlandic girls and women—some as young as 13—were fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs), often without their consent. The long-awaited investigation was meant to examine the societal impact of the program and whether it violated human rights and international law.

The two experts who left the panel cited concerns over the “geopolitical situation,” referencing U.S. efforts to gain influence in Greenland. However, Nathanielsen dismissed claims that the delay was politically motivated.

“This is about shedding light on a dark chapter in our history,” she said. “This issue should not be used as a weapon in political disputes. That would be disrespectful to the gravity of the case.”

Opposition lawmaker Ineqi Kielsen, deputy leader of the Siumut party, has called for the report’s release before Greenland’s parliamentary election on March 24. “Voters deserve insight into a matter concerning human rights, legal security, and Greenland’s historical and future relations,” he stated.

A separate report published last year found that 354 Greenlandic women had provided testimonies, with the majority stating they had not given consent for the procedure.

Tags: greenland, human rights, forced sterilization