Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has issued an apology to Greenlandic women and young girls who experienced systematic discrimination related to the “spiral case,” during the period when Denmark held responsibility for Greenland’s healthcare system until 1992. The apology also covers other instances where Greenlanders were treated unfairly.

The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement on Wednesday acknowledging the deep impact of the spiral case, describing it as a source of anger and sorrow for many Greenlanders and their families. Frederiksen admitted this situation negatively impacts the perception of Denmark and the unity of the realm.

The “spiral case” refers to a campaign in the 1960s and 1970s where an estimated 4,500 Greenlandic women and young girls had contraceptive coils inserted, some allegedly without their knowledge or consent. Numerous women have since publicly shared their experiences of having coils inserted without their informed consent.

In the past year, 143 women filed a lawsuit against Denmark, alleging human rights violations and demanding a total of DKK 43 million in compensation.

An independent report on the spiral case, which has faced several delays, is expected to be published in September. Following the report’s release, the Danish government, in collaboration with Greenland’s government (Naalakkersuisut), plans to discuss how to learn from the past and address the consequences of these historical events. These discussions will also include the matter of potential financial compensation for those affected in the spiral case and other related instances.

The Danish and Greenlandic governments will jointly commemorate the apology in Greenland once the report is finalized.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Chairman of Naalakkersuisut, also apologized for cases occurring after Greenland assumed responsibility for its healthcare system.

He stated that Naalakkersuisut acknowledges their responsibility and has already decided to provide access to compensation for affected women. Work on this has been ongoing since January, and an announcement regarding the application process for compensation will be made soon.