Political Participation

The Domowina represents the political interests and rights of the Sorbs at regional, national and European level and strengthens their participation and visibility in political and public life.

Domowina is the political representative of the Sorbian people. We advocate for Sorbian concerns at regional, national and European level.

As the umbrella organisation, Domowina is represented in various political, cultural and social institutions. This gives the Sorbian people the opportunity to participate actively in important committees and organisations. We also work closely with public institutions to ensure Sorbian interests are represented broadly – from educational bodies to government offices at the state (in Saxony and Brandenburg) and federal levels as well as at the European Union, in close cooperation with other minorities across Europe.

Domowina has a strong influence on legislation in the interest of the Sorbian people. Through lobbying and political engagement, we help create conditions that protect and promote Sorbian rights and cultural identity.

We are also committed to political education. Domowina promotes understanding of democratic processes, strengthens political awareness and encourages active participation in political decision-making.

The promotion of the Sorbian language is an essential part of political participation. The Sorbian people actively use their language to communicate their political concerns and to strengthen their identity.

In short, Domowina plays a key role in enabling the political participation of the Sorbian people. Our activities strengthen the Sorbian community and ensure that the Sorbian people are recognised, respected and included in political and cultural discourse in Germany.


Participation in Bodies and Organisations

The Domowina is represented in more than 80 advisory and decision-making bodies at local, regional, national and international level. Through this participation, it brings the concerns of the Sorbian people directly into political, cultural and public processes.

Sorbian representatives are active in a wide range of fields – from education and culture to governmental and specialist bodies – thereby helping to shape the framework conditions for the preservation and further development of the Sorbian language, culture and rights.

Below you will find an overview of the bodies in which the Domowina participates (as of 2025).


Domowina Delegates Representatives to Bodies

International Bodies

  • CIOFF Germany (International Council of Organisations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts)

Federal Bodies

  • Minority Council of Germany
  • Advisory Committee for Matters Concerning the Sorbian People at the Federal Ministry of the Interior

Bodies of the Foundation for the Sorbian People

  • Council of the Foundation for the Sorbian People
  • Board of Trustees of the Ćišinski Prize of the Foundation for the Sorbian People
  • Advisory Body for Structural Change Projects

Bodies at State Level in Brandenburg and Saxony

  • Working Group “Sorbian Education Issues” at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of Brandenburg
  • Jury of the Mina Witkojc Prize
  • Jury of the Zejler Prize in cooperation with the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK)
  • Board of Trustees of “Brandenburg Day”
  • Board of Trustees of “Day of Saxony”
  • State Education Council of Saxony
  • State Parents’ Council of Saxony
  • Council for Sorbian Affairs of the Free State of Saxony
  • Regional Advisory Committee for the Lusatian Mining Region in cooperation with the Saxon Agency for Structural Development GmbH
  • Broadcasting Council of MDR
  • Broadcasting Council of RBB
  • Saxon State Authority for Private Broadcasting and New Media
  • Sorbian Action Network “seś”
  • Steering Group 2plus Saxony in cooperation with the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism

Bodies at Regional Level (in Alphabetical Order)

  • Committee responsible for the allocation of LEADER funding in the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape
  • Committee for Education, Culture and Sport of the District of Spree-Neiße
  • Committee for Education, Sport, Culture and Municipal Affairs of the City of Chóśebuz | Cottbus
  • Committee for Social Affairs, Health and Minority Rights of the City of Chóśebuz | Cottbus
  • Advisory Board for Urban Development Budyšin | Bautzen
  • Lignite Committee of the State of Brandenburg
  • Euroregion Spree-Neiße-Bober
  • Youth Welfare Committee of the City of Budyšin | Bautzen
  • Youth Welfare Committee of the District of Budyšin | Bautzen
  • Youth Welfare Committee of the District of Zhorjelc | Görlitz
  • Youth Welfare Committee of the District of Spree-Neiße
  • Coordination Committee for the Cooperation Agreement of the Lusatian UNESCO Sites
  • District School Advisory Board “Spree-Neiße”
  • Cultural Advisory Board of the Upper Lusatia–Lower Silesia Cultural Region and its specialist working groups
  • Cultural Convention of the Upper Lusatia–Lower Silesia Cultural Region
  • LEADER Region Lusatian Lake District
  • Regional Advisory Board “Spreewald +”
  • Regional Advisory Board of the LEADER Region Spree-Neiße
  • Regional Planning Association “Lausitz-Spreewald”, Regional Assembly
  • Assembly of the Regional Planning Association “Upper Lusatia / Lower Silesia” and the Lignite Committee
  • Association for the Development of the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape (registered association)
  • School Advisory Board of the City of Chóśebuz | Cottbus
  • School Conferences in Brandenburg and Saxony

Advisory Bodies of Sorbian Institutions

  • Expert Advisory Board of the WITAJ Language Centre
  • Approval Commission for Sorbian Textbooks at the WITAJ Language Centre

Further Bodies

  • Supervisory Board of Krabat-Mühle Schwarzkollm gGmbH
  • Lower Sorbian Language Commission (DSRK) at Maśica Serbska
  • Upper Sorbian Language Commission at Maćica Serbska

 


Domowina Is a Member of:

The Domowina is a member of FUEN, which advocates for the rights of Europe’s autochthonous minorities and represents them at international level.

Visit the FUEN website

As a member of the Minority Council, the Domowina participates in this important body in order to represent the rights of the four national minorities of Germany – the Danes of South Schleswig, the Sorbs of Lusatia, the Frisians of North and East Frisia, and the German Sinti and Roma – vis-à-vis the Federal Government and the German Bundestag.

Visit the website of the Minority Council

As a member, the Domowina supports the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) in its efforts to protect threatened peoples worldwide and to raise awareness of their situation.

Visit the website of the Society for Threatened Peoples

Through the CIOFF network, the Domowina is connected with international initiatives dedicated to the preservation and promotion of folk art and intangible cultural heritage.

Visit the CIOFF website

The Domowina participates in cross-border cooperation within the Euroregion Spree-Neiße-Bober, thereby strengthening Sorbian culture in a European context.

Visit the website of the Euroregion Spree-Neiße-Bober

As a member, the Domowina supports regional initiatives aimed at the protection, preservation and cultural development of the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape.

Visit the website of the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape (OHTL)

As a member of the Spreewald Association (registered association), the Domowina supports regional initiatives for the sustainable development of the Spreewald. It is committed to strengthening the regional economy, fostering cooperation among local stakeholders and preserving nature, culture and quality of life in the towns and municipalities of the region.

Visit the website of the association