Naalakkersuisoq warns of children living in fear, growing alcohol abuse and a social system on the edge. The population must take responsibility, he believes.
– I had imagined that this press conference would not be until August, but I got so angry and mad that I decided to hold it now.
These were the words from Maasi Pedersen (IA), Naalakkersuisoq for Children and Families, at the start of a press conference on Wednesday morning.
He is currently traveling around the country to visit municipalities to gain an overview of the social sector.
However, recent cases of suicide threats and alcohol abuse in particular have led Maasi Pedersen to emphasize the seriousness of the situation to the public.
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– At the end of last month I went for a walk in the city center of Nuuk. A lot of adults had already started drinking. There were children who were scared. They know that in the evening there will be drinking at home, he says.
According to statistics from the Greenland Police, there were 69 cases of child abuse in 2024. And Maasi Pedersen has no doubt that the real number is much higher, as there are many cases of alcohol-related unrest in homes.
The experience on the street in Nuuk made Naalakkersuisoq ask the rhetorical question:
– When is enough, enough. When is the limit reached. When do we decide to do something together as a country?
The state does not have the whole solution
Maasi Pedersen is clearly affected and frustrated at the press conference, where he begins to mention the figures for placements and suicides.
– There are over 300 children who have been placed outside the home in a residential institution. Every year we spend half a billion kroner on children outside the home. This is expenditure that could be spent in a different way for the benefit of society.
So many suicides there were last year
At the press conference, Maasi Pedersen (IA), Naalakkersuisoq for Children and Families, reviewed the suicide figures.
Here he mentioned that in 2024 there were just under 1200 suicide threats, 90 suicide attempts and 50 suicides throughout the country.
He also said that in 2023 there were four suicides where the person was under 18 years old.
When Naalakkersuisoq looks at social problems, he mentions three stages of consequences: Parents drink alcohol or take drugs, placements increase, and when the children become adults, they can end up so damaged that they commit suicide.
And here he comes to a realization: Neither the Greenland government nor the municipalities can solve the problems alone.
Personal responsibility
Therefore, Maasi Pedersen calls on more citizens to sign up as volunteers and help create positive change in their local environments.
– We all need to help each other and have to take responsibility. For children, adults and the elderly. If children are in danger, we shouldn’t wait for the parents – we have to take responsibility.
What are you asking for when you say that the population should help more?
What are you asking for when you say that the population should help more?
– Let me give you an example: In Nanortalik, the manager of the club has a big heart and doesn’t wait for help. He took responsibility for increasing the self-confidence of young people. I would like to talk to the municipalities about who will take on the task.
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Maasi Pedersen emphasizes that many people have the idea that it is the public sector that should help. And this is especially true when young people are discouraged. That is why he wants more people to create activities for young people.
– There is also a police officer who came down to Nanortalik and, on his own initiative, built a climbing wall for young people to use. That led to lower crime. When that person leaves, we lose that zealous spirit. We need everyone to fill those positions.