Former Greenland Minister Tom Høyem Criticizes Misleading Figures on IUD Compensation
In a pointed critique, former Greenland Minister Tom Høyem has taken aim at both the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Health, accusing them—and the news agency Ritzau—of disseminating misleading figures regarding compensation for Greenlandic women affected by controversial contraceptive practices in the 1960s and 1970s.
Høyem’s comments come on the heels of an announcement detailing a compensation model recently agreed upon by the government and a significant majority in the Folketing. This model aims to address the grievances of Greenlandic women who underwent IUD insertions without their consent during a troubling chapter of the nation’s history.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of the Interior and Health, later reported by Ritzau, the figure cited for potential claimants stood at approximately 4,500 women. However, Høyem vehemently disputes this estimate, labeling it both absurd and scandalous.
He argues that, to his knowledge, only 200 to 300 women were involuntarily subjected to IUD insertions as part of what has come to be known as the “spiral campaign.” Høyem asserts that the vast majority of those included in the 4,500 figure willingly chose to have the device, a distinction he believes is crucial.
“This information from the Ministry and Ritzau is simply scandalous,” Høyem told RADIO IIII. “The figure of 4,500 is outrageous and only serves to escalate existing tensions by introducing completely erroneous data into the conversation.”
A Closer Look at the Compensation Case
Høyem further emphasizes that only 143 Greenlandic women filed complaints with the commission investigating the IUD issue last year, seeking justice for violations of human rights connected to their experiences. These women all reported having an IUD inserted without consent while Denmark oversaw healthcare in Greenland until 1992.
If Høyem’s assessment is accurate, he argues, it should have significant repercussions for those involved in calculating and releasing these figures. “As a former minister, I would expect accountability from the ministry—perhaps even suggest that the staff member responsible redirect their efforts. And as a former journalist with a background in press ethics, I would call for Ritzau to dismiss the employee who uncritically disseminated this information,” he remarked.
Under the newly established model, each of the 4,500 women may be eligible for a compensation payment of DKK 300,000, contingent upon meeting specific criteria.
RADIO IIII is currently seeking a response from Ritzau’s management regarding Høyem’s allegations.