Health Minister Ida Auken has prioritized urgent legislative proposals for the compensation scheme for the victims in the spiral case. The bill must be considered in August, but affected women can already apply for compensation from 1 July, the minister says.
The new health and Minister of Churches in Denmark Ida Auken (S) has prioritized urgent submission of the bill for the compensation scheme for the victims in the spiral case here before the Folketing goes on summer vacation. Ida Auken informs Sermitsiaq.
The work has been put on hold due to the general election in Denmark.
– The bill was tabled in the Folketingsalen on Thursday 25 June at 10, and then the 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be processed in August and September, says Ida Auken.
A shocking case
Ida Auken points out that affected women can already apply for the compensation scheme from 1 July, and that the Ministry of Health will start paying the allowances perhaps as early as the autumn.
The new minister of health justifies the urgent presentation of the proposal by saying that the spiral case has been one of the most painful cases that she has been close to in her many years in politics.
– It is shocking that this has happened, and therefore it is a matter that is urgent for me. We must have helped and compensated the women and families who have been exposed to some of the most horrible things that a human being can be exposed to.
Reimbursement and travel expenses
The bill was originally introduced in December 20205 by then Minister of the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde (V), and contains an individual financial compensation of DKK 300,000 to the affected women for the pain they have experienced.
In addition to the reimbursement scheme, money has been set aside for a guidance effort and an interpreter who will travel around Greenland and raise awareness of the possibilities of applying for the reimbursement. Finally, money has already been set aside for therapeutic assistance in the form of 12 free psychological consultations.
Hearing process
Compared to the original bill, there are a few changes as a result of the consultation process.
– Firstly, you can now get compensation in both Greenland and Denmark, and secondly, the time limit has been removed in relation to when the women must have lived in Greenland before 1992. Denmark takes responsibility for everything that happened up to 1992, says Ida Auken and assures that all parties to the consultation have now been involved, referring to the criticism from the Council for Human Rights (IPPS), which pointed out in April that the ministry had not submitted the compensation scheme for consultation among civil society organizations in Greenland.
Visit in autumn
Ida Auken herself is planning a visit to Greenland this autumn.
– It’s about showing my respect to the women who have been exposed to this. I get to meet more of them and hear their stories, terrible as they are. It is important to listen.
