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From the mid-1960s to the early 1990s, Danish authorities ran a systematic campaign to reduce Greenland's birth rate by inserting intrauterine devices (IUDs) into thousands of Inuit women and girls, many without their full knowledge or consent.
This program, known as the "spiral case" (Danish for IUD case), was a state-sponsored population control measure aimed at curbing the high birth rate in Greenland at the time, which Danish officials linked to the costs of modernizing the territory.
Key details of the campaign include:
- Scale: An estimated 4,500 women and girls—roughly half the fertile female population in Greenland at the time—received IUDs between 1966 and 1970 alone.
- Lack of Consent: In many cases, the women were not informed about the procedure or its long-term effects, and parental consent was often not obtained for minors. Girls as young as 12 were affected.
- Health Consequences: The IUDs used were often too large for young, never-pregnant girls and women, leading to severe pain, infections, heavy bleeding, and in some cases, permanent infertility or the need for a hysterectomy.
- Impact: The campaign drastically halved the birth rate in Greenland within a few years.
- Aftermath: The practice officially ended in 1991 when Greenland took over its healthcare system, but some women have reported non-consensual incidents occurring after that date.
The Danish government and the government of Greenland formally apologized for the actions in 2025 following
public pressure and an official investigation. Many of the affected women have filed lawsuits against the Danish state for compensation.
A group of nearly 150 women have filed a
lawsuit against the Danish state over the forced birth control program (known as the "spiral case" or "loop campaign"). The Danish government has recently agreed to compensate the victims, settling the legal fight.
Key Details of the Lawsuit and Compensation
- Number of Plaintiffs: A group of 143 women initially filed the lawsuit, seeking justice and acknowledgment for the human rights violations they experienced.
- Compensation Amount: The women each demanded 300,000 Danish kroner (approximately $46,000 USD) in compensation.
- Outcome: In December 2025, the Danish parliament and government agreed to a compensation system that will provide 300,000 DKK to all eligible women who were forcibly fitted with IUDs without their consent between 1960 and 1991. An estimated 4,500 women may be eligible to apply for payouts starting in April of the following year.
- Apologies: Both the Danish and Greenlandic governments have issued formal apologies for the program.
- Ongoing Investigation: An independent, impartial investigation into the scope and decision-making behind the birth control campaign was launched in 2023, with its final report expected in early 2026.
The lawsuit was a significant step, leading to a legal victory for the victims and official acknowledgment of the widespread abuse by Danish health authorities.