Aaja Chemnitz Larsen


Aaja Chemnitz Larsen is a Greenlandic politician and a Member of Parliament at the Folketing for the Inuit Ataqatigiit, representing one of the two seats for Greenland. She is the first elected politician from Greenland in the Folketinget, to become a Member of International Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Education and civil career

Aaja Chemnitz Larsen studied Master of Science in Business Economics and Auditing at the University of Greenland and has an Executive management degree from INSEAD. Aaja has since the election to Inatsisartut in November 2014 been a member of Inatsisartut which she took a leave from due to the work at the Folketing. In the period from 2012-2015 she was Greenland's children spokesman for MIO – National Advocacy for Children's Rights in Greenland. In the period 2009-2012 has she was the director of the Welfare Department in Municipality of Sermersooq and been head of the social department in the years 2007-2009. Right Until 2009 she was employed as an Associate Expert of the United Nations in New York City in the Division of Social and Economic Affairs, and here working with indigenous peoples' rights.

Danish Parliament

Tenure

In 2019, Chemnitz Larsen presented a plan focused on early prevention of sexual abuse of children, a growing problem in Greenland. The plan requested funding and support from Denmark to support efforts. The plan was approved, with Denmark agreeing to provide 80 million DKK and Greenland providing 20 million DKK to fund efforts.

Political positions

Independence of Greenland

Chemnitz Laren supports Greenlandic independence, however, she does not believe that independence is easy to achieve and that it will happen in the near future.