
Human Rights Institute support in fatherless Greenlander cases
The Danish Institute for Human Rights is now entering the trial of legally fatherless people in Greenland, the Danish Institute for Human Rights writes in a press release. The Copenhagen City Court has now approved that the Danish Institute for Human Rights can intervene in the case in support of the legally fatherless. Back in February, 26 legally fatherless Greenlanders sued the Danish state for violating their human rights. This is because they have not had the right to know, be supported by or inherit from their father, as they were born out of wedlock. The plaintiffs are all Greenlandic citizens and were born between 1948 and 1972. It is claimed that the case of the legally fatherless concerns several fundamental human rights issues, including the protection of private and family life and the prohibition of discrimination.
“In our opinion, the legal position of the legally fatherless in Greenland is contrary to human rights and has been for decades. They are entitled to recognition and compensation for the violation,” says Louise Holck, director of the Danish Institute for Human Rights. The Institute further considers that these are “serious” human rights violations, Marya Akhtar, head of the legal department at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, tells the Greenlandic media KNR. /Ritzau/