Aaja Chemnitz Larsen
Aaja Chemnitz Larsen (born 2 December 1977 in Nuuk) is a Greenlandic politician and a Member of Parliament at the Folketing (Danish Parliament) 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.[1]
Aaja Chemnitz Larsen | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Danish Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2015 | |
| Member of the Kingdom of Denmark's Parliament | |
| Assumed office 18 July 2015 | |
| Deputy | Johan Lund Olsen |
| Preceded by | Sara Olsvig |
| Member of the Greenlandic Parliament | |
| Assumed office 10 December 2014 | |
| Deputy | Múte Bourup Egede |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 December 1977 Nuuk, Greenland, Kingdom of Denmark |
| Citizenship | Kingdom of Denmark |
| Nationality | Greenlandic |
| Political party | Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) |
| Alma mater | University of Greenland INSEAD |
| Profession | Master of Science (MSc) in Business Economics and Auditing |
Education and civil career
Aaja Chemnitz Larsen studied Master of Science (MSc) 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 (Greenlandic parliament) 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.[2]
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.[3]
References
- Biography on the website of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget). Accessed 20 January 2020.
- Friedrich, Doris. "Alcohol, gambling and cash increase risk of sexual abuse of Greenland's children". High North News. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- Schionning, Bjorn (9 January 2020). "As the ice melts, Greenland considers its future". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.