A PORTRAIT

Historical overview
The Domowina was founded on October 13th, 1912, in the Saxonian town of Hoyerswerda/Wojerecy as an umbrella organization for Sorbian associations and unions. It has always been dedicated to the defence of the democratic rights and national interests of the Sorbian people and to the promotion of their linguistic and cultural heritage. Since 1933 its constituition has allowed individual membership.
In the 1930s, the Domowina became a target of political oppression. In 1937, its solid opposition to NS policies that aimed at a complete assimilation of the Sorbian minority led to its ban and the liquidation of its property. The Sorbs were officially referred to as "Wendish speaking Germans", and any activities that helped sustain a separate national identity were declared illegal. However, within days of the end of World War II in Europe, the Domowina was able to resume its work. It officially re-established itself on May 10th, 1945, in Chrósćicy/Crostwitz (a village near Kamenz/Kamjenc, Saxony).
In the aftermath of the war, the organization attracted much interest and commitment from large sections of the Sorbian population. Working towards a renewal of Sorbian cultural life and national awareness, it was actively and enthusiastically supported by numerous individuals.
For the next forty years (the era of the German Democratic Republic) the Domowina was subjected to the same kind of political control and regimentation as any other association and party. Its official status was that of a "socialist national organization". In the nineteen eighties, many Domowina members demanded that more attention should be given to their organization's specific areas of interest, such as Sorbian language, culture and arts. They came up with suggestions which many board members found themselves unable to reject.
The collapse of East Germany's SED regime in the autumn of 1989 ushered in the current chapter in the history of the organization. A more liberal climate allowed the Domowina to review its objectives and strategies and to initiate further constitutional changes. On March 18th, 1990, a special congress was held at which a new statute was adopted and the Domowina re-declared the independent national organization of the Sorbian people. The First General Meeting, which took place on January 12th, 1991, resulted in minor amendments to its statute, and the Second General Meeting (June 15th, 1991) confirmed the union's official program. By that stage, the Domowina had re-invented itself as a self-contained and politically independent umbrella organization of the Sorbian people and had adopted its present official name. At the Third General Meeting (June 5th, 1993) a revision of its official programme was conducted and a new chairman, as well as three deputies, were elected.


The Domowina Today
Today, the Domowina constitutes the representative body and defends the interests of about 60,000 Sorbs, who are based within and beyond the eastern German states of Saxony and Brandenburg.

Its democratically elected federal board (Hłowna zhromadźizna) reflects the socio-economic make-up of the Sorbian population and their spectrum of interests.
Jan Nuk from Radibor (district Bautzen) was elected chairman at the Seventh General Meeting (March 25th, 2000), which took place in Malešecy/Malschwitz.
Fryco Kśamaŕ , deputy mayor of Drehnow (district Cottbus-Land), and dr. Pětr Brězan , a veterinarian from Sollschwitz (district Kamenz), were elected vice-chairpersons.

According to its statute, the Domowina is dedicated to
- the maintenance, development, promotion and expansion of the language, culture and traditions of the Sorbian people, as well as a Sorbian national awareness, sense of community and regional identity
- the unification and support of all Sorbian associations whose activities contribute to the well-being of the Sorbian people
- the defense of Sorbian interests in public, in the state parliaments of Brandenburg and Saxony and vis-á-vis institutions and authorities at local, regional and federal level.
- the creation and support of legal provisions for the protection and promotion of ethnic minorities in Germany and the enforcement of such regulations and relevant international agreements
- the promotion of mutual respect between the Sorbian and the German section of the population and the promotion of equal opportunities
- the creation and maintenance of friendly links to other Slavic nations and ethnic minorities, and to international associations of ethnic/national minorities for the purpose of joint representation and mutual support in defense of common interests

The following organizations are Domowina members:
- the regional Domowina branches (Sorb. župy/Sing. župa) Bautzen, Kamenz, Hoyerswerda, Weißwasser/ Niesky and Niederlausitz
- Serbske šulske towarstwo z.t. (an association for the promotion of Sorbian in education)
- Zwjazk serbskich studowacych (union of Sorbian students)
- Serbski Sokoł z.t. (union of Sorbian sport associations)
- Zwjazk za serbski kulturny turizm (union for the promotion of Sorbian cultural tourism)
- Maćica Serbska z.t. (concerned with the academic study and wider appreciation of the Sorbian language, history and culture)
- Zwjazk serbskich spěwarskich towarstwow (union of Sorbian choral societies)
- Zwjazk serbskich wuměłcow z.t. (union of Sorbian artists)
- Towarstwo Cyrila a Metoda z.t. (association of the Roman-Catholic Sorbs)
- Serbske młodźinske towarstwo PAWK z.t. (Sorbian youth association)

The following organisations are associate members :
- Association Łužica - Sorbs and Friends of the Sorbs Outside Lusatia
- Society for the Promotion of a Sorbian Resource Center in Berlin (SKI)
- Sdruženi přátel Lužice, Prague
- Spolek česko-lužický, Prague
- Towarzystwo Polsko-Serbołużyckie, Warszawa, Wrocław, Poznań
- Australian Wendish Heritage Society, Melbourne
- Texas Wendish Heritage Society and Museum Serbin, Texas
- Concordia University at Austin, Texas

The Domowina is a member of:
- Federal Union of European Ethnic Groups (FUEV), Flensburg
- European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, Dublin/Brussels
- Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker, Göttingen

Membership
Domowina membership is open to individuals and groups, incorporated and unincorporated Sorbian associations, unions, communities and societies. Associations of Sorbs and associations of friends of the Sorbian people based outside Lusatia may become associate members. Deserving supporters of the Sorbian people of any national background may become honorary members.

Work principles
The Domowina conducts its affairs through:

- the General Meeting (Hłowna zhromadźizna)
- the Federal Board (Zwjazkowe předsydstwo)
- committees, who specialize in
. cultural policies and association-related matters, media and public relations
. national education, the place of Sorbian issues in education, interests of the young and the promotion of the Sorbian language
. legal provisions and official policies that affect ethnic minorities in Germany and in other parts of Europe, and relevant political affairs at local and regional level
- the Chairman's Advisory Council
- the Auditing Committee
- Domowina Headquarters
- the Executive Committee, which constitutes the legal representative of the Domowina in the sense of § 26 of Germany's Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), consists of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairpersons, the General Secretary, and the Deputy General Secretary, who are each entitled to represent the Domowina individually.