Greenlanders' rights on the agenda in the Folketing

It was the chairman of the Greenland Committee, Aaja Chemnitz, who had taken the initiative for a hearing on Greenlanders' rights as a follow-up to the government's action plan against racism, which was presented last year.

The hearing focused on both cultural and linguistic rights and also touched on what solutions could be the way forward.

Among the speakers were Minister of Social Affairs and Housing Sophie Hæstorp Andersen (S), Chair of ICC, Sara Olsvig, Marie Kahlig from the Greenlandic House in Aarhus, Chair of Uagut, Julie Rademacher, Director of the Institute for Human Rights Louise Holck and Ivalo Lyberth from Tikiusaaq and the Inuit Association.

Disrespectful for the Minister to leave

Unfortunately for several of those present, the Minister of Social Affairs left shortly after she had taken the podium, and she therefore did not hear the many critical questions from the audience, which, among other things, dealt with difficult housing conditions and the continued use of parental competence tests in placement cases.

– I think it is disrespectful for the Minister to come and start the hearing, and then just leave, said Margrete Johansen afterwards.

Mother-child homes targeted at Greenlandic families

Member and former chair of the MAPI association, Laila Bertelsen, was also disappointed that the minister did not hear her critical questions. – I think it was grotesque that the minister did not stay and answer questions from the floor. We experience that many families do not know what support options are available, and that they are not offered them at all in placement cases. Instead, the children are removed.

– However, I was pleased to hear that they are planning to establish mother-child homes targeted at Greenlandic families, because then there will be some Greenlandic experts among the staff, and that is very important, said Laila Bertelsen after the hearing.

Good suggestions for solutions

For Camilla Siezing and Paninnguaq Falck Petersen, the event was mostly positive, and a step forward in finding good solutions to the discrimination that many Greenlanders experience.

– It is a continuation of the work that has been started. I think it is good that many different actors who work with Greenlandic society have been invited. Different points of view were expressed, and also some good suggestions for solutions. In addition, there were several critical questions from the audience, which is also good, said Camilla Siezing, chairman of the Inuit Association, after the hearing.

There were, among other things, concrete proposals for more opportunities for learning or relearning Greenlandic and better opportunities for learning Danish for those moving from Greenland to Denmark. In addition, better interpretation - which should be directed more to the case workers rather than to Greenlandic citizens.

– Many inputs and views were received by the politicians. I think there needs to be more conversation. It provides greater understanding and mutual respect. I also think the idea of ​​a cultural fund is interesting, said Paninnguaq Falck Petersen.

Critical questions will be sent to the minister

Aaja Chemnitz said after the hearing that it is common for ministers not to participate in a hearing from start to finish, and that she will of course send the critical questions to the minister. – I am glad that we held the hearing. There is a need to continue to focus on promoting the linguistic and cultural rights of Greenlanders in the Folketing. It is very healthy in a democracy that different critical opinions are expressed, and I know that there are also several loose ends and knots in the placement area that we are working on. It is also common for ministers to leave during a hearing. However, I am glad that she participated, and we will of course pass on the critical questions to her.