Minister acknowledges criticism of the racism-plan and wants to involve Greenlandic parliament members.

Minister acknowledges criticism of racism plan and will involve Greenlandic parliament members

A new action plan against racism faces harsh criticism from the two Greenlandic members of Parliament.

Immigration and Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek is ready to listen to criticism from Greenlandic parliament members. (Photo: © Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix) 32 minutes ago

The government is ready to listen to the criticism that comes from the two Greenlandic members of Parliament. Criticism targets a new action plan against racism, which the government is working on (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/et-laekket-udkast-fra-regeringen-vaekker-nu-skarp-kritik-fra-groenlandske-politikere).

- It is our draft, and then there will of course be a process where we also try to include the Greenlandic members of Parliament in the work, says immigration and integration minister Kaare Dybvad Bek (S).

The plan has been in the works for over two years. What do you say about the fact that what is now on the table gets criticized for not being enough?

- I understand that the ambition level is higher. I myself have held a meeting with the two Greenlandic parliament members to hear their opinion. That's what it sounds like from Kaare Dybvad Bek.

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Initiatives to combat discrimination against Greenlanders:

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* A new state agency will be established to coordinate efforts for fair treatment of Greenlanders in Denmark

* Efforts are being made to allow Greenlanders to indicate Greenland as their nationality in their passports

* The government will go into dialogue with boarding schools about the conditions for Greenlandic students

* Since last school year, compulsory teaching about the North Atlantic and the state union has been introduced in the school's history curriculum

* The Ministry of Education and Research will go into dialogue with higher education institutions about discrimination against Greenlandic students

* The government will create a fund to support civic society projects that will combat discrimination against Greenlanders living in Denmark

* With the financial law for 2024, money has been set aside to expand and strengthen the provision of translation services to Greenlanders in Denmark

Source: Draft of the action plan from the Immigration and Integration Ministry

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Mette Frederiksen acknowledges the problem

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The debate about racism against Greenlanders was reignited by Donald Trump Jr., son of the incoming U.S. president, after his visit to Greenland last week.

Here he said afterwards that young Greenlanders had told him that they were treated as second-class citizens when they came to Denmark.

A problem that Mette Frederiksen later acknowledged.

The action plan against racism has been in the works since 2023, but has been postponed several times. DR is in possession of the confidential draft of the plan.

It contains, among other things, a fund for projects that will combat discrimination against Greenlanders, a new state agency that will coordinate efforts for fair treatment of Greenlanders and an initiative to go into dialogue with higher education institutions about discrimination against Greenlandic students.

But it's not enough, it sounds like from the two Greenlandic parliament members, Aaja Chemnitz from the party IA and Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, who represents the Greenlandic Social Democratic Party Siumut.

- This is not a plan that can really combat the racism and discrimination that many Greenlanders experience daily in Denmark, says Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam.

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Room for more suggestions

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The two Greenlandic parliament members believe that many of the proposals are too vague.

Two of the initiatives describe that the government will enter into 'dialogue' with, respectively, boarding schools and higher education institutions to address racism against Greenlandic students.

But according to Kaare Dybvad Bek, it is necessary to start with dialogue.

- I think there are many places where people are not aware of the discrimination and some of the racist remarks that Greenlandic students and Greenlandic students are exposed to.

- Therefore, we believe that the first step on the way is also to open the discussion in a serious way with the institutions that have responsibility for ensuring that their students and students are treated properly, regardless of whether they come from Greenland or other places.

But do you think dialogue is enough to change the racism that Greenlandic students are exposed to?

- I think at least it is the first step on the way, but it is not the only thing we do.

What will you specifically say to the two Greenlandic members who say they expected more?

- I will say that we have taken their suggestions into account, and we are working seriously to see how we can realize the additions that they desired for this plan.

So can one expect further initiatives when the final plan is presented?

- Yes, we have not used all the money that has been set aside. And that's also because we think there should be room for those who have a better understanding of the concrete discrimination. That they also have the opportunity to come with a proposal for what could be done, says Kaare Dybvad Bek.

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