Denmark’s formal apology marks a significant moment of reckoning for its colonial legacy in Greenland, acknowledging the painful impact of coercive birth control policies implemented during the mid-20th century. For decades, thousands of Greenlandic women were subjected to forced or pressured sterilizations without proper consent, a practice now recognized as a grave violation of human rights. The government’s statement expresses deep regret and commits to addressing the long-lasting social and psychological damage inflicted on affected communities.

The apology coincides with the release of new findings from an independent commission tasked with investigating these abuses. Key revelations include:

  • Documentation of over 4,000 sterilizations carried out between the 1960s and…