Review of the 3rd Serbska dabata „Indigenous, autochthonous, or?“

Regarding he discussion „Who do we want to be, indigenous, autochthonous or something else?“ held on 20 March 2024 in the Serbski dom in Budyšin/Bautzen as part of the „Serbska debata“, the present representatives of the Serbski Sejm look back with mixed feelings. The debate showed that there are different positions within the Sorbian/Wendish community on the utilisation of rights under ILO 169 „Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries“.

Sejm panellist Hajko Kozel / Heiko Kosel assesses: „There is still a great need for knowledge. For example, the benefits such as the right to their own educational institutions, co-decision rights regarding mineral resources or strong and effective right to sue associations are still little known and also that the fear of risks is unfounded, as the Convention prohibits negative effects on other rights. This encourages us to continue our educational work and promote the great opportunities for our people.“

Background: ILO 169 grants special rights, for example, to peoples who (b) are descended from populations who lived in the country ... at the time of conquest or colonisation or of the establishment of the present boundaries of the State and who, without prejudice to their legal status, retain some or all of their traditional social, economic, cultural and political institutions.