Greenland cannot conclude Denmark committed genocide in spiral scandal, proposes reconciliation commission

"You could say that the two reports are so different that one report says there was no genocide at all. The other says that there may have been," said Mariane Paviasen Jensen, Greenland's minister for children, youth, justice and equality, at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

So we cannot say on behalf of the government whether there was genocide or not, she continued.

The task of the expert groups has been to examine the Danish state's treatment of Inuit women and how it aligns with human rights. From the 1960s onwards, women of childbearing age were systematically subjected to physical interventions aimed at reducing the birth rate. Thousands had IUDs inserted - in many cases without their consent or knowledge.

Several Greenlandic politicians have previously said that it could be seen as genocide.

“Look back at the darkness”

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen proposed at the press conference that Greenland and Denmark launch a reconciliation commission.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says in a written statement that the "political process" following the reports will be handled together with the Greenland government.

“The most important thing for me is that we find the right path together,” she says in the statement.

Mette Frederiksen thinks a reconciliation commission is a good idea:

“A reconciliation commission gives us the opportunity to look back at the darkness of our shared history and to take a critical look at it and acknowledge the pain it may have caused.”

Scientists broke out

Mariane Paviasen Jensen urges people to read the reports and draw their own conclusions.

At the same time, the Greenlandic government rejects one of the reports, as it is considered not to meet the guidelines for the investigation. The report in question was written by two Danish researchers who broke away from the original expert group due to differences of opinion.

However, the government believes that the second report complies with the directives.

Both reports have been reviewed by experts.