Photographer Juliette Pavy Wins Sony World Award for Series on Forced Contraception of Greenlandic Women

French photojournalist Juliette Pavy has been awarded the prestigious Photographer of the Year title at the Sony World Photography Awards for her profound documentary series, Spiralkampagnen: Forced Contraception and Unintended Sterilisation of Greenlandic Women. The project sheds light on a dark and largely hidden chapter of Arctic history, using the medium of photography to force a public reckoning and amplify the voices of survivors.[1][3][5]

The award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize and a solo presentation at the upcoming Sony World Photography Awards exhibition, recognizes Pavy's ability to navigate a deeply sensitive subject with grace and rigor. Monica Allende, chair of the professional competition jury, praised Pavy’s "empathic portrayal of her subjects," noting that she captured them in a manner that is "both dignified and profoundly intimate."[1][3][6]

At the center of Pavy's winning series is the Spiralkampagnen, or "coil campaign," an involuntary birth control program orchestrated by Danish authorities between 1966 and 1975. During this period, Greenland was transitioning out of its colonial status under Denmark, and authorities implemented the policy specifically to curb the population growth of the native Inuit community.[2][4]

The sheer scale of the medical intervention was staggering. Records indicate that nearly 4,500 intrauterine devices (IUDs) were implanted into Inuit women and girls. Many of the victims were as young as 12 years old, and a vast majority report that the procedure was performed entirely without their consent or understanding.[1][4]

For decades, the trauma of the Spiralkampagnen remained a silent burden borne by the women of Greenland. The campaign was only thrust into the broader European consciousness in the spring of 2022, following an investigative podcast by Danish journalists that unearthed official documents proving the demographic intent of the policy.[4]

Pavy, who holds a degree in bioengineering alongside her photojournalism training, first learned of the scandal through a short newspaper article while working in the Arctic. Her scientific background and decade of experience in the region uniquely positioned her to document the emerging medical and human rights scandal with both technical precision and deep empathy.[2]

To construct a comprehensive visual narrative, Pavy avoided relying solely on traditional portraiture. Instead, she utilized a diverse array of photographic formats to build a rigorous evidentiary record. Her series interweaves stark, situating shots of clinical spaces in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk with archival photographs and medical X-rays of the young women involved.[1][5]

The human anchor of the project rests on the contemporary portraits of the survivors. Among them is Naja Lyberth, a psychologist from Nuuk who was one of the first women to publicly recount the forced contraception she endured as a teenager. Lyberth has since become a prominent campaigner for reproductive rights, earning international recognition for her advocacy.[2][5]

Crucially, Pavy recognized that documenting the victims was only half of the story; the architecture of the policy itself needed to be visualized. She expanded her lens to include the perpetrators and the state apparatus, photographing the Danish parliament, national archives, and even the gynecologists who worked in Greenland during and after the program.[1][2]

This comprehensive approach transforms the series from a mere collection of photographs into a visual indictment. By placing the victims' perspectives at the forefront while meticulously documenting the state's involvement, Pavy's work captures the collective trauma of a community while demanding concrete accountability.[1]

The real-world impact of the revelations documented by Pavy is currently unfolding in real time. Following the 2022 podcast, Greenland and Denmark launched an official joint investigation into the campaign, which is expected to conclude its findings soon and provide a definitive historical record of the state's actions.[2][5]

Meanwhile, the survivors are seeking direct legal recourse. In a landmark move, 143 Inuit women have sued the Danish government, demanding a collective compensation of approximately £4.9 million for the severe and lasting impacts on their reproductive health, bodily autonomy, and psychological well-being.[2]

Upon accepting the award, Pavy emphasized that her primary goal was to raise awareness of the violence against Inuit women and the unintended sterilization that many suffered. "With this Award I hope to give a voice to those who were silenced for almost half a century, and to all the women in the world who are constantly fighting for their rights," she stated.[5]

Pavy's recognition at the Sony World Photography Awards underscores a growing trend in the art world: the elevation of documentary photography that serves as both artistic expression and rigorous historical investigation. Her upcoming solo exhibition will ensure that the stories of the Greenlandic women continue to reach a global audience, proving that a camera can be a powerful tool for justice.[1][3]