Federal German labour minister, Hubertus Heil, is open for talks on the rights of the Sorbs/Wends

The UN has designated the following slogan for this year's Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9: „Leaving no one behind. Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.“ The Serbski Sejm thus sees itself confirmed on its way to more rights for the Sorbian/Wendish people. Hajko Kozel, spokesman of its Legal Committee, stated on the occasion of the visit of the Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil (SPD), to Budyšin/Bautzen on August 7: „With the declaration of the Sorbs/Wends as an indigenous people on June 12, the Serbski Sejm has opened up a strong legal basis for our people: the ILO Convention 169. In order to achieve our most important goals - namely democracy, self-determination as well as educational and cultural autonomy - we can now also refer to a legal norm ratified by Germany, whose implementation is controlled by the UN.“ The minister took part in a public discussion in the Serbski Dom upon the invitation of Kathrin Michel (SPD), a candidate for the German Bundestag from Kamjenc/Kamenz. There he shared the perception that the Sorbs/Wends are an indigenous people and expressed his willingness to talk about the future implementation of ILO169 in Germany. Following the initiative and mediation of the Sorbian working group of the SPD in Saxony, Měrćin Wałda handed over dossiers and resolutions of the Serbski Sejm to the Federal Minister. The Legal Committee thanks for the support from the SPD.