Greenland children are suing Denmark over the experiment that deprived them of their parents and families.
In 1951, 22 Greenlandic children aged between 4 and 9 were taken from their parents and sent to Denmark to learn Danish as part of a social experiment. They were placed in an orphanage and forbidden from speaking their native language.
The six remaining Greenlanders alive today, aged between 75 and 78, are seeking compensation from the Danish government.
Their lawyer, Mads Krüger Bramming, told Politiken that this constitutes a violation of their right to a private and family life, as guaranteed by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. They have lost their family life, language, culture, and sense of belonging. The lawyer recently sent a letter to the Prime Minister's office demanding compensation of 250,000 kroner for each of the six survivors. Otherwise, they are prepared to take legal action and summon those responsible. According to the source, the Prime Minister's office now has 14 days to respond.
Apology from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
The experiment launched by Denmark in 1951 had dire consequences for the children, as half of them subsequently suffered abuse and mental health problems, many had short lives, and only a minority received an education.
Nearly a year ago, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen apologized from the podium of the Danish parliament to 22 Greenlanders, saying, “We cannot change the past, but we can take responsibility and apologize.” Following the apology, several experts and politicians in Greenland called for compensation for the survivors. However, Social Affairs Minister Astrid Kraag rejected financial compensation last May. In a written response on Sunday, Astrid Kraag wrote to Politiken that “acknowledging the mistakes of the past” is essential, but it remains unclear whether she will proceed with the compensation requested by the lawyers of the six citizens.
