Jarl Cordua on the Spiral Case: No Sane Lawyer Would Challenge a Leading Attorney’s Assessment

“There is no case.” That was the assessment from Jonas Christoffersen, described as Denmark’s most prominent human-rights lawyer, when he appeared on DR2’s program “Deadline” to discuss the spiral case involving Greenlandic women.

The women were fitted with intrauterine devices against their will by Danish doctors. The controversy has continued to fuel genocide accusations from Greenland’s opposition, while debate has also focused on whether the policy emerged partly from deep social problems in Greenlandic society.

Jarl Cordua considers the creation of a reconciliation commission on the spiral case sensible. He is less certain about the seriousness of the initiative from Greenland’s self-government. The issue remains tied to the official apology made to the affected women by Greenland’s government leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in September last year.

Cordua argues that expecting Greenlandic politicians to begin discussing with their own population whether the spiral policy also had roots in serious social problems is probably naive. The piece presents that view alongside Christoffersen’s rejection of the idea that Denmark should bring a case against the state at The Hague.

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There is no case.