According to Black’s Law Dictionary, “minority” refers to a group that is different in some respect from the majority and that is sometimes treated differently as a result.

A minority is a group which is numerically inferior to the rest of the population of a State and in a non-dominant position, whose members possess ethnic, religious or linguistic characteristics which differ from those of the rest of the population, and who if only implicitly, maintain a sense of solidarity directed towards preserving their culture, traditions, religion or language.

According to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992), minorities have the right to enjoy their own culture, without interference or any form of discrimination.  States shall protect the existence and the national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and shall encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity.

According to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), in those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practice their own religion, or to use their own language.