Forced Reproductive Control: The Greenland IUD Scandal and Its Echoes in Global Eugenic Practices
Forced Reproductive Control: The Greenland IUD Scandal and Its Echoes in Global Eugenic Practices In the annals of colonial history, few episodes encapsulate the intersection of medical paternalism, demographic engineering, and human rights abuses as starkly as Denmark's "Spiral Case" in Greenland. From the 1960s to the 1990s, Danish doctors inserted intrauterine devices (IUDs) into thousands of Greenlandic Inuit women and girls without their informed consent, aiming to curb population growth and reduce welfare costs in the autonomous territory. This program, which halved birth rates in a few years, inflicted profound physical and psychological trauma, including chronic pain, infections, and infertility. Revelations in recent years, amplified by survivor testimonies and investigative reports, culminated in a formal apology from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on September 24, 2025, during a visit to Nuuk, where she also outlined plans for a reconciliation fu...