Right when she came out, I started counting the minutes, Keira, 39, recalls. I kept looking at the clock to see how long we had. When the moment came for Zammi to be taken from her arms, Keira says she sobbed uncontrollably, whispering sorry to her baby. It felt like a part of my soul died.
Now Keira is one of many Greenlandic families living on the Danish mainland who are fighting to get their children returned to them after they were removed by social services. In such cases, babies and children were taken away after parental competency tests - known in Denmark as FKUs - were used to help assess whether they were fit to be parents.
In May this year, the Danish government banned the use of these tests on Greenlandic families after decades of criticism, although they continue to be used on other families in Denmark. Defenders of the tests argue they provide a more objective method of assessment, while critics say they are culturally biased and lack predictive validity regarding parenting abilities.
Greenlandic parents in Denmark are significantly more likely to have their children taken into care compared to Danish parents. Despite the government's intent to review past cases, progress has been slow, leaving families in limbo.
Keira prepares for her daughter Zammi's first birthday, determined to continue her fight for family reunification, emphasizing that if she doesn't pursue it, it will become a battle for her children in the future. I will not stop fighting for my children, she insists.
