With all that attentionwho have been in Greenland in January, it may have easily slipped past most that an important piece of work awaited completion at the end of the month.
The investigation into the human rights aspects of the spiral case, which Naalakkersuisut started in 2024, was supposed to be completed at the end of January. But the publication of the report is now postponed.
With all that attentionwho have been in Greenland in January, it may have easily slipped past most that an important piece of work awaited completion at the end of the month.
The investigation into the human rights aspects of the spiral case, which Naalakkersuisut started in 2024, was supposed to be completed at the end of January. But the publication of the report is now postponed.
Naalakkersuisoq for business, raw materials, energy, the area of justice and equality, Naaja H. Nathanielsen (IA), informs Sermitsiaq.
– We have received the expert group’s report, but a process is underway before we publish it. First, the expert group’s report is in English and needs to be translated.
– And then of course we have to start looking at whether there are things in it that we have to deal with, so it will take at least two months, I think, before we can come out with a publication of the report, she says.
She explains that Naalakkersuisut has known for a long time that the report would be submitted in English on January 31, but that there may have been a miscommunication in relation to the fact that it would be published in January.
– There is also a process whereby it must be informed to Naalakkersuisut, who must take note of it, and there I get to know where we stand in relation to the content of it, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen.
Pieces in a bigger puzzle
Initially, Naalakkersuisut had announced that the investigation would be completed by September 2025 at the latest. But September 9 landed the impartial investigation of the historical context of the spiral case. And that naturally delayed Naalakkersuisut’s own investigation.
– They (the researchers, ed.) asked to be allowed to be delayed because they were waiting for the second expert group’s report with the historical report on the contraception case, and they needed many of the same sources, and they could not get access to them.
Naaja H. Nathanielsen understands that many are waiting for the report, which will shed light on the human rights aspects of the case and other rights that may have been violated.
She has slowly started to read it, but cannot reveal any of the contents yet. And therefore it is also difficult to say what the next step will be.
– Now I haven’t finished reading it, so it’s also a bit difficult for me to say what the next step will be, but if you’re asking about the whole contraception thing, then this is another piece in it.
– We have the historical analysis that came in September. It was one piece. Now there is some more information about the rights that may have been linked to the case. That is another piece, she says and continues:
– There has been an apology from both Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen, which is a third piece.
Naaja H. Nathanielsen also calls the compensation cases ongoing in Greenland and Denmark additional pieces.
– So I think the idea that we reach a point where everything is just finished, we are a long way from that. There will be further processing of this case for some time yet, but the goal is, in the long term, that we reach the point where we can say that the case is now well informed.
– I would think that we are embarking on a really healthy process, and it is necessary, even if it is going to be tough. There is no way around it. It’s like wound healing, it takes time, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen.
Proceedings for compensation are extended
On Tuesday, Naalakkersuisut sent a press release that there were more women who applied for compensation for having an IUD inserted without consent after 1992 than they had expected. Therefore, the proceedings have been extended.
Naaaah. H. Nathanielsen cannot yet say how many applicants there were. The grant Naalakkersuisut has put in the Finance Act was based on the 15 cases the National Medical Board knew about in 2024.
– The fact that more women are applying confirms to me that there is a dark figure. We have probably known that all along, but it is perhaps also a small indication that the taboo is about to be broken, says naalakkersuisoq.
– So for me, it is hopefully also an indication that there has been a general understanding and a personal understanding among these women that it was not their fault. That it is okay to demand one’s right. It’s okay to say what happened wasn’t right.
Naaaah. H. Nathanielsen has previously explained that if there were more applicants than the 15 known cases, she would have to apply for additional funding from Inatsisartut. And that work begins for her now.
