Lasting Consequences of Colonization
OSUSep 25, 2021
A group of women from Greenland who claim to have been the victims of a birth control program run by Greenland's former colonial ruler in the 1960s filed a lawsuit against Denmark on Monday.
Over 140 women are alleging they were compelled to undergo a procedure involving the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) to decrease the number of births in the area. Every participant is requesting 300K Danish crowns ($43K) as compensation.
The brutal colonization of another nation or territory has devastating and long-lasting impacts. The lasting impacts include discrimination against indigenous peoples, income and wealth gaps, and poor economic and governing infrastructure. This case is another stark reminder of the social consequences of colonization and Denmark's reckless policies.
While proceeding with caution, European governments have come to the table to discuss reparations for formerly colonized nations across the globe. The harm cannot be undone, but accountability will go a long way toward bridging strained relationships and restoring wrongs. Governments like Denmark are working in good faith to address the legacy of colonial policies.
There's a 50% chance that Denmark will rank at least 14th in GDP per capita (PPP) in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.