A/49/415/Add.1 English Page 17 G. The right to establish and maintain their own associations 78. In Denmark, the main organization of the German minority is the Bund deutscher Nordschleswiger (BdN, Federation of German North-Schleswigers), based in Åbenrå, and there are numerous other associations with specific functions. The central administrative agency is the Deutsches Generalsekretariat (German General Secretariat). The aim and purpose of the BdN is to look after the interests of the German minority in Denmark and to help ensure the harmonious development of the German-Danish border area. The BdN voices the concerns of the German minority in the two countries’ parliaments, Governments and authorities and in public and maintains close contact with associations and cultural institutions in Germany. The BdN is also the organizational backbone of the Schleswigsche Partei (SP, Schleswig Party), which is particularly active in representing the minority in local politics. It sends one member to the Council of Sonderjylland and is represented on several local councils. The members of the Danish minority have formed many clubs and associations, ranging from the farming association to housewives’ associations to citizens’ groups, which help to hold the minority together and also run restaurants and so on. 79. The Deutscher Jugendverband für Nordschleswig (German Youth Association for North Schleswig) and the Nordschleswigschier Ruderverband (North Schleswig Rowing Club) comprise over 30 German youth groups, sports clubs and rowing clubs, which, with support from the municipalities, offer a wide range of leisure activities for young people and sports-minded adults, organize central sports competitions and contribute towards youth exchanges. The Jugendverband is linked with the youth organizations of other national minorities in the institution Jugend Europäischer Volksgruppen (JEV, Youth of European Ethnic Groups). The central instructional centre for the Jugendverband is Jugendhof Knivsberg. 80. The Sydslesvigs Danske Ungdomsforeninger (SDU, South Schleswig Danish Youth Associations) is the umbrella organization for the broad-ranging youth work of 77 youth associations. It sponsors recreational centres and sports facilities, as well as the Danish-speaking amateur theatre "Det lille Teater" in Flensburg. The SDU cooperates with the youth organizations of other national minorities in Jugend Europäischer Volksgruppen (Youth of European Ethnic Groups). 81. In Belarus, there are eight associations of national minorities. They are the association of Ukrainians of Belarus, "Vatra", the social-cultural association "Polissye", the Foundation for the Preservation of the Jewish Historical and Cultural Heritage in Belarus, the Union of Poles in Belarus, the Belarus-Azerbaijan society "Gobustan", the Byelorussian centre for German culture "Vozrodzenye", the "Moldova" society and the Byelorussian association of Muslim Tatars "Al-Kitab". In Ukraine, there are 237 national-cultural societies. 82. In Sweden, according to constitutional law, everybody living in Sweden has the right to be organized politically and culturally. /...