Naja Lyberth: There are still many battles to fight

Going for a walk when you have a lot on your mind can be one of the best ways to find peace. And a walk in good weather is always refreshing. Most people can nod in recognition of that. One of them is Naja Lyberth, who walks between 8,000 and 10,000 steps every day.

– It has actually become fewer after I had a blood clot in February, but I have recovered well, says Naja Lyberth when we meet and go for a walk at Ilimmarfik in Nuuk.

The wanderlust-loving woman, who is also known as a spokesperson for those who received IUDs without consent, has been busy in recent years. She is leading the 143 women who want to sue the state. One of the biggest milestones came recently when they received an official apology from Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the President of the Greenlandic Government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

– I felt very happy, mostly because we don't have to fight for years to be heard, says Naja Lyberth.

We went for a walk with Naja Lyberth on Friday, September 5. Listen to the full conversation with her below. The podcast is in Greenlandic.

An apology that brings back memories

Although the apology has brought joy, it also stirs up painful emotions.

– Of course, this has consequences for the women who are victims of it. Especially those who have never been able to have children. For some, it arouses anger, for others it makes them despair, she says.

When the spiral case makes headlines in the media, it affects many.

– It's the same as for those who have been exposed to sexual abuse. When the subject comes up in the media, they have a relapse. I can imagine that many women in the IUD case feel the same way, says Naja Lyberth, who is also a psychologist.

The apology was issued on August 27th in a press release, without an official announcement. This disappointed many.

– Apologizing without informing us in advance, without looking us in the eye, but instead saying it through the media, makes it intangible. I understand that many are affected, she says.

Later it was announced that there would be an official celebration of the apology in Katuaq on September 24th.

In a waiting position

Although the apology has brought the group closer to their goal, they are still on hold. The women are each demanding 300,000 kroner in compensation. But the prime minister did not mention anything specific about compensation when she apologized.

– We are waiting. I am more of a "let's see" kind of person, says Naja Lyberth.

Greenland took over the health care system on 1 January 1992. Women who received an IUD without consent after this date will receive compensation, the chairman of the Greenland Government announced. However, women who received an IUD while the state was responsible for the health care system still do not know whether they will receive compensation.

– We have heard in the media that compensation is on the way. But if the amount is lower, the court will have to decide. I hope, however, that we can avoid going to court, she says.

By the end of 1970, at least 4,070 Greenlandic women and girls had been given the IUD. Many of them didn't even know what was going on. And according to Naja Lyberth, the group of women who want to sue the state is growing.

– We imagine that there will be both a group 2 and a group 3. We are not just 143. We see ourselves as pioneers, she says.

A disappointing study

In 2023, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that she would not take a position on an apology until the investigation into the spiral case was completed. Yet the apology came before the investigation was published. Work on the investigation started on June 1, 2023, and the conclusion was presented on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. We met Naja Lyberth before the investigation was published and asked her what she expected. She replied:

– I expect that they will say that there was a violation of human rights, even though it was not their task to investigate it. They have collected women's testimonies, and I hope that it will be clear that rights were violated, says Naja Lyberth.

Many are disappointed that the investigation did not include the issue of human rights.

“We were reluctant from the start. They wouldn’t even talk to our parents, who had authority over us at the time, since we were under 18,” she says.

The work is far from finished.

Naja Lyberth and other women who had IUDs inserted without knowing it are still suffering from the consequences. 52 women have never been able to have children, 74 have suffered serious damage to their fallopian tubes and have had difficulty getting pregnant, and 112 women have had repeated pelvic inflammatory disease.

Therefore, the spokesperson expects that the work will continue, even though they have now received an apology.

– It will probably be a while before we don't have to fight anymore. I can't imagine us giving up, says Naja Lyberth.

They only stop working when others take over responsibility, she emphasizes.

– If we can ensure that a department or others take over the matter, we can avoid responsibility.

For her, the community with the other women is a great strength.

– We, who are victims, stand together. We cooperate and make room for each other. The love and support we have for each other is our reward in the midst of all the hardships. We are like sisters, she says.

When the compensation is in place and the responsibility lies with others, she can finally let go of the task.

– When we get there, I will grow old in peace and in good health, concludes Naja Lyberth.