Minority Secretariat of the Four Autochthonous National Minorities and Ethnic Groups

The Minority Secretariat strengthens the political and public visibility of Germany’s national minorities. It connects their representatives, supports the Minority Council and promotes dialogue with political actors and the wider public in order to represent the interests of the minorities effectively.

Visit the website of the Minority Secretariat

The Domowina is the responsible body for the Minority Secretariat of the four autochthonous national minorities and ethnic groups.

The Minority Secretariat – Secretariat of the Minority Council of the four autochthonous national minorities in Germany – was founded in 2005 in Berlin. It supports the Minority Council and acts as a link between the minority representatives and the Bundestag, the Federal Government and other institutions.

It provides information on Germany’s four autochthonous national minorities and their concerns, and carries out lobbying activities. Its tasks also include public relations, representation in committees and serving as the secretariat of the Minority Council. The Secretariat is funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.


Visit the website of the Minority Secretariat

Insights into the Work of the Minority Secretariat and the Minority Council

 

Meeting of the Minority Council with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 27 March 2026 in Berlin. Photo: Bundesregierung/Tobias Koch
Meeting of the Minority Council with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 27 March 2026 in Berlin. Photo: Bundesregierung/Tobias Koch
Minority Dialogue Forum 2025: The Minority Council presents key concerns to the Committee on Internal Affairs. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath.
Minority Dialogue Forum 2025: The Minority Council presents key concerns to the Committee on Internal Affairs. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath.
Minority Dialogue Forum 2025: The Minority Council presents key concerns to the Committee on Internal Affairs. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath.
Minority Dialogue Forum 2025: The Minority Council presents key concerns to the Committee on Internal Affairs. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath.
Minority Dialogue Forum 2025: The Minority Council presents key concerns to the Committee on Internal Affairs. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath.
Minority Dialogue Forum 2025: The Minority Council presents key concerns to the Committee on Internal Affairs. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath.
Minority Dialogue Forum 2025: The Minority Council presents key concerns to the Committee on Internal Affairs. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath.
Minority Dialogue Forum 2025: The Minority Council presents key concerns to the Committee on Internal Affairs. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath.

The Team of the Minority Secretariat

 

The Minority Secretariat, based in Berlin, is committed to representing the interests of the autochthonous national minorities in Germany. It is headed by Roman Kühn.

He is supported by Sven Daum (Assistant), Carolin Renner (Officer for Knowledge Transfer) and Marie Wörner (Project Manager of the interactive travelling exhibition “What do you mean - “minority”?).

Team des Minderheitensekretariats
Team des Minderheitensekretariats

Travelling Exhibition “What Do You Mean – ‘Minority’?”

The travelling exhibition “What Do You Mean – ‘Minority’?” presents, for the first time together, the four national minorities of Germany – the Danes, Frisians, Sorbs/Wends and German Sinti and Roma – as well as the Low German language group. It highlights their history, language and culture and was opened in March 2022 at the German Bundestag.

Visit the exhibition page

The Minority Secretariat presented, on behalf of the Minority Council, the exhibition “What Do You Mean – ‘Minority’?”, which for the first time introduced all four national minorities and the Low German language group together. It provides insights into the lives, cultures and languages of these groups in Germany. © Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
The Minority Secretariat presented, on behalf of the Minority Council, the exhibition “What Do You Mean – ‘Minority’?”, which for the first time introduced all four national minorities and the Low German language group together. It provides insights into the lives, cultures and languages of these groups in Germany. © Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
In March 2022, the exhibition “What Do You Mean – ‘Minority’?” was opened at the Paul Löbe House of the German Bundestag. Representatives of the minorities and political guests emphasised the importance of diversity for coexistence in Germany. © Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
In March 2022, the exhibition “What Do You Mean – ‘Minority’?” was opened at the Paul Löbe House of the German Bundestag. Representatives of the minorities and political guests emphasised the importance of diversity for coexistence in Germany. © Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
In April 2022, the closing event of the exhibition took place at the Paul Löbe House. Representatives of the national minorities and the Low German language group once again came together to mark the conclusion of the joint project. © Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
In April 2022, the closing event of the exhibition took place at the Paul Löbe House. Representatives of the national minorities and the Low German language group once again came together to mark the conclusion of the joint project. © Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
The exhibition combines information and experience: at media stations, visitors can explore videos and articles, while exhibits from history and everyday life vividly illustrate the diversity of the minorities. © Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
The exhibition combines information and experience: at media stations, visitors can explore videos and articles, while exhibits from history and everyday life vividly illustrate the diversity of the minorities. © Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
The Sorbian exhibition element incorporates key motifs of Sorbian folk art in its triangular form, inspired by traditional costumes and the ornaments of Sorbian Easter eggs. The division into two parts symbolises the two Sorbian languages and the settlement area divided between Upper and Lower Lusatia. Photo: Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.
The Sorbian exhibition element incorporates key motifs of Sorbian folk art in its triangular form, inspired by traditional costumes and the ornaments of Sorbian Easter eggs. The division into two parts symbolises the two Sorbian languages and the settlement area divided between Upper and Lower Lusatia. Photo: Minority Secretariat / Stefan Haehnel.


Visit the website of the Minority Secretariat

Funding Notice

The Minority Secretariat is funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag.