UN Raises Ethnic-Discrimination Concerns Over Denmark’s Removal of Greenlandic Infant

On 1 May 2026 the United Nations special rapporteurs on violence against women, Indigenous peoples’ rights, and contemporary racism sent a letter to the Danish government warning that the removal of newborn Zammi from her mother, Keira Alexandra Kronvold, “may amount to ethnic discrimination.” Kronvold’s infant was taken two hours after birth in November 2024 after she was subjected to a parental-competence (FKU) psychometric test that officials said assessed whether she was “civilised enough.”

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Denmark governed Greenland as a colony until 1953 and, despite Greenland’s autonomous status, Inuit people in Denmark report ongoing systemic discrimination. The FKU assessments, long criticised as culturally unsuitable for Greenlandic and other minority parents, were discontinued by the Danish government in May 2025 after sustained campaigning. Nonetheless, dozens of Inuit women, including Kronvold, remain separated from children placed in foster care following earlier tests.

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• Nov 2024 – Zammi removed from Kronvold two hours after birth.

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• May 2025 – Danish government bans use of FKU tests for Greenlandic parents.

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• Mar 2026 – Denmark holds a general election; no government formed.

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• Apr 2026 – UN special rapporteurs issue a letter expressing concern over possible discrimination.

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• May 2026 – Kronvold appears before the Danish High Court seeking custody.

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• Keira Alexandra Kronvold – Greenlandic mother contesting the removal of her child.

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• Reem Alsalem – UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, co-author of the UN letter.

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• Jeanette Gjørret – Children’s-rights lawyer from Stage law firm representing Kronvold.

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• Danish Ministry of Social Affairs – Confirmed receipt of the UN letter but cited the lack of a government as a barrier to responding.

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The UN rapporteurs stated that the removal “may be discriminatory and disproportionate,” highlighting violations of Kronvold’s reproductive autonomy and the broader pattern of rights infringements faced by Indigenous women. Denmark’s Ministry of Social Affairs acknowledged the letter but noted that, without an elected government, it could not issue a formal reply.

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Campaigners have argued that the FKU tests were “culturally unsuitable” for Greenlandic families and that their application reflects systemic bias. Gjørret emphasized that the high-court case is “symbolic” and could set precedent for other parents subjected to the assessments.

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Kronvold described the separation as “devastating,” saying she is “not allowed to be connected with my daughter as I should as a mother” and that seeing her child refer to the foster parents as “Mum and Dad” caused her “enormous psychological suffering.”

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While the UN asserts that the removal “may be discriminatory,” the Danish government has offered no substantive response, citing the interim political vacuum. The exact number of affected Inuit families remains unspecified beyond “dozens,” and details of any remedial measures for past cases are absent.

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• “that violations of human rights have occurred” — Reem Alsalem, UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls

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• “Photograph: Juliette Pavy/The Guardian Alsalem added: “While we welcome the decision that such tests should not be used for Greenlandic parents in the future, those that have been subjected to decisions using the FKU assessment should have access to justice and remedies.” — Reem Alsalem

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• “Alsalem said: “In this respect, we recalled the fact that Indigenous women and girls are often subjected to multifaceted and complex spectrum of mutually reinforcing human rights violations, including in the context of sexual and reproductive health services and childbirth.” — Reem Alsalem

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• “I am not allowed to be connected with my daughter as I should as a mother. She has to make a connection to the foster parents and it hurt me so much that she called them Mum and Dad,” — Keira Alexandra Kronvold

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• “There are many parents who are in the same situation, so we want the high court to look at the case and see: was it [the use of the tests] right or wrong?” — Jeanette Gjørret, lawyer

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The Danish High Court’s ruling on Kronvold’s custody petition is pending. The UN rapporteurs have indicated they will monitor the outcome and may pursue further action if Denmark’s human-rights obligations are not addressed. Legislative reform of parental-assessment practices remains a focal point for Indigenous advocacy groups.

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