Greenland

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[edit] Basic Information

Flag of Greenland.svg
Map of Greenland

Greenland is the world's largest island and has the majority of its land covered in ice. Greenland is 2,166,086 square kilometers, with 410,449 square kilometers ice free and 1,755,637 square kilometers covered completly with ice. Because it is such a large island, Greenland has an expansive 44,087 square kilometer coast line. The climate is Arctic with an average temperature of not more than 10°C in the warmest month.[1]

Despite around 81% of the massive island being ice-capped, it has a total population of 56,194 people as of January 1, 2009. Of this population, 29,809 are male and 26,385 are female. The population density is 0.14 persons per square kilometer in the ice free area. The capital city of Nuuk has the largest population density with 15,105 inhabitants. [2]

Greenland Coat of Arms
Greenland Coat of Arms

The inhabitants of Greenland are known as Greenlanders. Gleenlanders are composed of two different ethnic groups; Greenlanders who are Inuits and Greenland born whites who taken together make up 88% of the population and Danish and others making up 12% of the total population. The median age of the total population is 33.5 years old. Male median age is slightly higher than the total median falling at 34.9 years old. The median age for Greenlandic females is slightly lower than both other medians at 31.9 years old. The age bracket of 0-14 years old represents 23% of the population. The majority, 70.1%, falls into the 15-64 bracket and 6.9% of the population is 65 years old or older..[3] The official language spoken in Greenland is Greenlandic (or East Inuit) and some inhabitants speak English as well as Danish. The new Coalition Government recognizes that "not all citizens speak Greenlandic. In order to ensure the highest level of involvement from all citizens, it is important to improve access to learning the Greenlandic language. This is to be followed up by an integration policy, which aims at a more effective integration of new citizens. Greenland is not alone in the world. There will therefore still be a need to improve skills in Danish, English and other languages."[4] The official and main religion of the island is Evangelical Lutheran. The Coalition Agreement states that," With a government that is based on holistic thinking, the spiritual life of people is central, thus Naalakkersuisut intends to strengthen the conditions of the church parishes and in this connection will work closely with everyone within the church and the parishes."[5]

[edit] Brief History

In the 10th century, Greenland was inhabited by Vikings who had migrated from Iceland. The Danes started to colonize the island during the 18th century and Greenland was eventually,in 1953, made a part of Denmark. Greenland joined the European Community(EU) with Denmark in 1973. However, they withdrew from the EU in 1985 over a dispute concerning stringent fishing quotas. Home rule was granted to Greenland in 1979 by Denmark and was enacted in 1980. Self-government was established on June 21st, 2009.[6]

[edit] Economic Development, Health, and Education

Greenland has few main industries with most of them spawned from the country's expansive coastline. The economy relies on a substantial subsidy - about $700 million in 2008-09 - from the Danish Government, which supplies about 60% of government revenues. Employment in the public sector, including publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. [7] Fish processing is a large industry in the country, with shrimp and halibut the most popular. Small shipyards litter the coastline and handicrafts as well as hides and skins are sold. Greenland's geography is utilized by several mining industries including gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamonds.

The largest export in Greenland is fish and fish related products comprising 94% of their total exports according to a 2001 estimate. Denmark, Japan, Canada and China are all export partners. The largest imports are machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, and petroleum products. Greenland is import partners with Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the UK.[8]

Greenland has an infant mortality rate of 10.72 deaths per 1,000 lives births and falls as the 151 in comparison to the world. There is slighty higher male infant mortality rate at 12.26 deaths to every 1,000 live births compared to 9.1 deaths of female infants to every 1,000 live births. Greenlanders total populations life expectenct at birth is 70.07 years. Males life expectancy is slightly lower than females in Greenland. Males can expect to live to be 67.44 on average while females can expect to live up to 72.85 on average..[9]


The minimum working age in Greenland is fifteen and compulsory education ends at age sixteen.[10] Greenland has a literacy rate of 100% meaning every male and female over the age of 15 can read and write.

[edit] Governance

In 1979 Greenland was granted Home Rule. In November 2008 a referendum on self government was passed and eastablished on June 21, 2009. There are six political parties in Greenland of which the Siumut is the largest which was founded in 1977. The oldest party was founded in 1976 and is called the Inuit Atugatigiit. In the late 1970s the Atassut was founded. In 2002 the Demokraatit was created. 2005 brought forth the creation of the Kattussegaitigiit Partiiat and in 2008 the newest political party called the Sorlaat Partiiat was founded. Greenland has a Parliment, municipal councils and representatives to the Danish Parliment.

In 1953 the Danish Constitution was expanded to encompass Greenland. At that point in time Greenland sent two representatives to the Danish Parliment. In 1955 the Ministry of Greenland was established under the Danish Prime Ministers Office. The purpose of the Danish constitution was to give Greenland and Denmark equal footing. In 1960 the Danish Government established the Greenland Committee which aimed to strengthen efforts to make equality more effective. The Danish state would be responsible for the social programs and physical infrastructure. In 1979 the Greenlandic Parliment and Greenland Government sat for the first time under the Home Rule Act. The Home Rule Act says that the Danish Government has responsibility for foreign policy, defence and security policy, the legal system and monetary policy. The other areas of responsibility fall under the jurisdiction of Greenland Home Rule. The head of state is the Danish Queen. Greenland Home Rule works closely in coordination and cooperation with the High Commission of Greenland and the Prime Ministers office as well as other Ministrys.

[edit] Elections

Greenland Municipalities
Greenland Municipalities

The Home Rule government is composed of 31 elected representatives. They are elected every four years and the Parliment meets at least twice a year in the spring and autumn. A speaker is appointed by the parliment and has his or her own secratariate. There are numerous permanent committies and the parliment elects an executive responsible for central administration.


There are 18 local authorities in Greenland that are responsible for local affairs. There are popularly elected district councils who serve for four years and elect a mayor. The District Councils form together to create a national association which takes responsibility for the common interests within the home rule government. Each settlement elects a settlement commitee every four years.[11]

[edit] Judicial Review

[edit] Courts and Criminal Law

[edit] Punishment

The Criminal Code describes the penalty applicable for a particular crime and the upper range of its duration. The court then has the oppurtunity for choosing a penalty within the range. The penalties employed are fines, lenient prison (7-30 days), prison (1 month-16 years or imprisonment for life)and community service orders. Lifetime imprisonment is prescribed for homocide and a few other crimes of equal gravity. In effect most of these lifetime sentences will receive a conditional royal pardon after approximently 12-14 years of imprisonment. Other prison sentences and fines may be suspended with conditions such as probation, payment of damages, and abstaining from drug use. The typical offense will receive a penalty within the lower half of the range for that crime. Certain circumstances may increase the penalty from this lower half of the range. If a particular case incompases more than one criminal act the penalty will be within the range of the most serious offense.

[edit] Legal Personnel

There are 15 supreme court judges, 69 high court judges, and 195 judges in the city courts of Greenland. All judges in Greenland have to get university law degrees in order to even have appointment be considered by the Ministry of Justice. The Constitution makes it so that if a judge works in the courts for over ten years they will automatically be appointed for life or until retirement. One of the judges responsibilities is to make all unclear points of a case clear.

[edit] Law Enforcement

Historically Greenland was considered an independent police district operating under the Danish Ministry of Justice. Within this independent district, there are seventeen police districts under the command of the Chief Constable in Nuuk. The Chief Constable has responsibility for not only routine police work but also holds the position of public prosecuter.[12] Since June of 2009 under the Home Rule Act the law enforcement function is handled by the Legal and Justice Department within the Office Of the Premier.[13] This police structure represents a signle centralized structure under Bayleys typology. Law enforcement officers undergo a three year training program. The training includes both classroom and field work at a police acadamy. To be excepted into the training program applicants must be between 21 and 29 years of age, hold citizenship, and not have any convictions. Additionally, they must be in good physical condition as well as good personal and economic condition. Good grades in school are also required. To advance to the level of chief of police the canidate must hold a masters degree in law. Within the law enforcement structure the police are subdivided into plain clothes criminal investigators, uniformed patrolmen, traffic police officers, immigration police, and other catagories. There is a divide between the state police and military police with the military police only having authority over soldiers.[14]

[edit] Crime Rates and Public Opinion

Greenland has a low crime rate.

Convicted Criminal Offences [15]
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Offences,Total 3,478 4,010 3,627 3,942 3,470
Sexual Offences,Total 114 175 172 160 101
Rape and Attempted Rape 48 64 56 58 44
Incest 5 11 4 3 1
Sexual Offences Against Minors 21 40 39 44 28
Other sexual offences 40 60 73 55 28
Crimes of Violence,Total 404 461 452 495 459
Assault 391 431 426 477 439
Homicide and Attempted Homicide 7 14 13 13 10
Other Offences Against Life or Body 6 16 13 5 10
Offences Against Property,Total 1,711 1,957 1,727 1,951 1,622
Theft 1,243 1,377 1,287 1,455 1,240
Fraud,Embezzlement,Etc. 112 179 96 80 52
Malicious Damage 287 318 264 331 239
Other Offences Against Property 69 83 80 85 91
Other Offences,Total 222 266 265 279 214
Offences Against Special Legislation 1,027 1,151 1,011 1,057 1,074
Selling and Smuggling of Narcotics 401 347 238 372 348
Number of Charged Persons 1,861 2,112 1,918 2,091 1,953

[edit] Rights

[edit] Family Law

As the supreme administrative authority in Greenland, the High Commissioner is in charge of matters concerning family law, including separations and divorce, adoption, determination of alimony and maintenence to spouse and children, and new surnames. Outside the capital,Nuuk, the local police act on behalf of the High Commissioner. In Nuuk, the High Commissioner is contacted directly. In addition the High Commissioner is in charge of matters concerning supervision of the funds of minors and persons of incompetence, permission to contract marriage where the joint fortunes of spouses in a former marriage has not been divided, granting permission to contract marriage despite status as a minor, matters involving a risk of a child being taken out of the Realm against the wish of one of the custody holders, marriage contracted outside municipalities are carried out locally following authorisation from the High Commissioner. [16]

[edit] Adoption

[edit] Marriage

Both parties must be over the age of 18 to marry. If either party is under the age of 18, permission to marry must be obtained from the prefect of the county where you reside.In 1989, the Danish Parliament approved a law that allows same-sex couples to enter into registered partnerships which provide most of the rights of married couples to same-sex couples, although not allowing them to adopt children.Greenland accepted Denmark 's registered partnership legislation in 1996.

[edit] Divorce

The Danish rules governing legal separation and divorce do not apply in full in Greenland. In Greenland attendence is mandatory at a meeting to negotiate the terms for divorce or legal separation, and there must be agreement about custody before a separation or divorce can be granted by the High Commissioner. Agreement must be reached on the following basic conditions before a grant for separation or divorce is issued:

  • The obligation to pay spousal maintenance and for how long.
  • Which spouse is to continue the lease for rented accommodation (including housing association property).
  • Compensation if one of the spouses owns separate property, etc.

After a year of legal separation a couple may be divorced. However, if both parties are in agreement, a divorce may be granted after a six month separation. An immediate divorce can be granted under the following conditions:

  • if one of the parties has committed adultery
  • if the parties have lived apart for two years due to irreconcilable differences
  • violent abuse has been committed
  • one of the joint children has been abducted to a foreign country
  • there has been bigamy.

An application for legal separation/divorce must be filed with the regional state administration. A divorce granted by the regional state administration costs DKK 500 and the fee is non-refundable.[17]

[edit] Inheritence

[edit] Social Inequality

[edit] Human Rights

The Coalition Agreement poses the Greenland Mission Statement as follows: "Our vision and shared goal is to create a society where everyone is needed and everyone has a place. With determination and hope, we will build a society where we reinforce each other as individuals and as a people. Through dialogue and interaction with the people we will create the foundation for a dignified life where everyone has the opportunity to develop and sustain life through active self-provision. Together with the people and by applying a robust leadership, we will create the framing conditions for a healthy society in transition. With solidarity and equality as our fundamental principles, we will all contribute according to ability and capacity. Accordingly those in need of help will receive support." [18] "The Greenlandic Philosophy of Life is based on the appreciation of the “inter-connectedness of everything and all things” – be it with the human persons’ inseparable physical and spiritual connection with each other, with nature, the natural resources or the universe – a connectedness that reaches far beyond the individual person."[19] "Everyone is born with unique abilities, by which everyone should have the opportunity to develop throughout a life-long learning process. Accordingly, these abilities should at all times and in all circumstances be used to provide for oneself and one’s families. Taking responsibility and exerting influence over one’s own life and actions as well as participating as citizens in the development of a democratic society is a right as well as a duty. All people want the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families, and thus the freedom to unfold their lifes as well as their innovative and creative potentials and interests. All people wish to engage in social communion with others and to contribute positively to those. This human perspective entails a society, where everyone takes part in the community at large as equals and in which there is room for the individual’s capabilities, wishes and needs." [20] "Self Government characterized by solidarity, cooperation and strength shall be created through an open and democratic dialogue. This demands that people are active participants and take their share of responsibility for a societal development that is based on the fundamental belief that all people are equal in dignity and worth. The communal bonds between people shall be strengthened and contribute to a societal development which is based on the Greenlandic culture. Changes must be created by paying due respect to the principles of collective and sustainable management and utilization of all living and non-living resources."[21]

[edit] Works Cited

  1. ↑ www.explorenorth.com/library/facts/greenland2000.html
  2. ↑ stat.gl/LinkClick.aspx?link=Intranet%2fGIF_2009_WEB.pdf&tabid=36&mid=391&lang=en-US
  3. ↑ www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-facebook/geos/gl.html
  4. ↑ uk.nanoq.gl/Emner/Government/~/media/9E0C6F8EBEFE42758CB5D9FC29FC2358.ashx
  5. ↑ uk.nanoq.gl/Emner/Government/~/media/9E0C6F8EBEFE42758CB5D9FC29FC2358.ashx
  6. ↑ www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gl.html
  7. ↑ www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-facebook/geos/gl.html
  8. ↑ www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-facebook/geos/gl.html
  9. ↑ www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-facebook/geos/gl.html
  10. ↑ www.ucw-project.org/#map
  11. ↑ wwww.explorenorth.com/library/facts/greenland2000.html#15
  12. ↑ wwww.explorenorth.com/library/facts/greenland2000.html#15
  13. ↑ uk.nanoq.gl/emner/government/departments.aspx
  14. ↑ www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/wfbcjden.txt
  15. ↑ stat.gl/LinkClick.aspx?link=Intranet%2fGIF_2009_WEB.pdf&tabid=36&mid=391&lang=en-US
  16. ↑ www.stm.dk/Index/mainstart.asp/_a_1704.html
  17. ↑ www.familiestyrelsen.dk/fileadmin/Filer/PDF/Getting_Divorced_2008.pdf
  18. ↑ uk.nanoq.gl/Emner/Government/~/media/9E0C6F8EBEFE42758CB5D9FC29FC2358.ashx
  19. ↑ uk.nanoq.gl/Emner/Government/~/media/9E0C6F8EBEFE42758CB5D9FC29FC2358.ashx
  20. ↑ uk.nanoq.gl/Emner/Government/~/media/9E0C6F8EBEFE42758CB5D9FC29FC2358.ashx
  21. ↑ uk.nanoq.gl/Emner/Government/~/media/9E0C6F8EBEFE42758CB5D9FC29FC2358.ashx
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