Denmark Apologises to Greenland's Victims of Forced Contraception Scandal

Denmark has apologised to the victims of a scandal involving the forced sterilisation and contraception of Greenlanders.

The announcement was made by the Danish government on 27 August 2025, in a statement released by the Prime Minister's office. It follows a previous apology made in 2022, and an official apology by the Danish Queen in 2021, which was accompanied by financial compensation for the victims.

Between the 1950s and 1980s, thousands of Greenlandic women were subjected to involuntary sterilisations and pill prescriptions as part of a population control initiative led by the Danish government. The policy has been described as an act of racism and discrimination by Greenlandic activists.

Government Commitment to Recognition and Education

In the recent apology, the Danish Prime Minister recognised the painful consequences of the policy, and expressed empathy for the victims and their families. She also outlined plans to further recognise the crimes against the Greenlandic people, and to educate the public about the Government's past mistreatment.

The apology is a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to confront and address the legacy of the policy, and to promote reconciliation and trust between the communities involved.