By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark publicly apologised on Wednesday to Greenlandic ladies who had been victims of a decades-long involuntary contraception marketing campaign, amid efforts by Copenhagen to restore relations with the island and fend off U.S. curiosity in taking it over.
The contraception marketing campaign got here to gentle in 2022 when information confirmed that hundreds of girls and ladies as younger as 13 had been fitted with intrauterine gadgets with out their data or consent between 1966 and 1991, the yr Greenland was given authority over its healthcare system.
“We can’t change what has occurred. However we are able to take accountability. Due to this fact, on behalf of Denmark, I wish to say: Sorry,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated.
The case is one in every of a number of which have emerged lately of allegations of misconduct by Danish authorities towards the individuals of Greenland, now a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Individually on Wednesday, Denmark summoned the highest U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen over Danish intelligence experiences that U.S. residents had been conducting covert affect operations in Greenland.
U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he needs to take over Greenland for nationwide and worldwide safety causes, and to realize management of the Arctic island’s assets.
His administration has cited the historic mistreatment of Greenland’s residents beneath Danish rule. Polls present most of Greenland’s 60,000 residents favour eventual independence from Denmark however not a U.S. takeover.
Denmark publicly apologised in 2022 to the victims of a Fifties experiment by which kids from Greenland had been taken to Denmark.
Final yr, a bunch of girls from Greenland, now of their 70s and 80s, sought compensation in court docket from Denmark over the involuntary contraception marketing campaign.
Denmark has but to offer compensation, citing an ongoing investigation to uncover the extent of the circumstances and the decision-making course of behind the marketing campaign. The results of the investigation is predicted subsequent month.
(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-PedersenEditing by Peter Graff)
