Greenlandic parties demand international court review of 'coil case'

The Greenlandic political parties Siumut and Naleraq are demanding that Denmark face an international court over the controversial 'coil case.' The parties argue that the Greenlandic people should not bear the consequences of the scandal without the Danish state being held more accountable.

This call for international legal action follows the recent publication of two long-awaited reports concerning the 'coil case.' The scandal involved the Danish state fitting thousands of girls and women with intrauterine devices (IUDs) between 1960 and 1991, often without their knowledge or consent. The practice continued in Greenland for a period even after Greenland assumed responsibility for its health sector in 1992.

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It cannot be accepted that the people of Greenland bear the consequences without the state being held more accountable.

An investigation from 2025 indicated that at least 4,070 Greenlandic women had IUDs inserted by the end of the 1970s under this policy. While the Greenlandic government has reviewed the reports, it has not been able to definitively conclude whether the Danish state committed genocide. Siumut and Naleraq contend that this crucial question should be decided by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Naleraq stated on Facebook that a political verdict or acquittal would be unhelpful. "A binding decision on Denmark's responsibility as a state in relation to the genocide convention can only be made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," the party wrote. Both parties believe that only the ICJ possesses the authority to make a binding determination on Denmark's responsibility under the genocide convention, moving beyond political pronouncements.

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A binding decision on Denmark's responsibility as a state in relation to the genocide convention can only be made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).