The Danish government apologized on Monday, September 11, to victims of mistreatment in public special institutions where they were housed because of physical disabilities or behavioral problems.
“The government had (…) duty of control and not doing his job well enough”Social Affairs Minister Bernil Rosencrantz-Theil announced that around fifty victims who had traveled to Horsens were still alive. “On behalf of the Danish government, on behalf of the Danish government, I am sorry. »
Between 1933 and 1980, about 15,000 blind, deaf, epileptic, mute, physically or mentally handicapped children and adults were housed in such centers for varying periods of time. Experts in the field explained that the time was not about protecting the rights of patients, but above all about protecting society against them.
Between 1929 and 1967, the law required sterilization of the mentally ill; And until 1989, they had to get a special dispensation to get married.
In 2020, the previous government launched an inquiry into the care of those imprisoned, which revealed serious failures and abuses at the centers, including forced sterilization, sexual and psychological violence and abuse, and severe medical shortages. “What happened to you is far from the Denmark we believe. We will never forget what happened to you. What happened to you will never happen again.”The minister promised.