Minorities have rights and, like all people, they also have responsibilities to wider society. Minorities should respect the territorial integrity and sovereign independence of States. The UN Declaration on the Rights of National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities states, "Nothing in the present Declaration may be construed as permitting any activity contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity and political independence of States" (article 8.4). Minority rights provisions do not recognize the right to secession for minorities, although in extreme cases this has been a negotiated outcome. More common are forms of territorial or non-territorial autonomy that fulfill minority rights and provide conditions for the peaceful settlement of disputes or claims.

In the exercise of minority rights, minority communities have a responsibility to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of their own members and of other human beings. In some cases, certain practices of minority cultures can violate the human rights of individuals within their community. The UN Declaration on the Rights of National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities urges States to create favourable conditions so that minorities can express and develop their cultures, religions and languages, "except where specific practices are in violation of national law and contrary to international standards" (article 4.2)

Minorities have a responsibility to engage in inter-cultural understanding. The UN Declaration on the Rights of National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities provides, "Persons belonging to minorities should have adequate opportunities to gain knowledge of the society as a whole" (article 4.5). The parents of minority children have a responsibility to ensure that children have opportunities to learn about wider society and inter-communal respect and tolerance. The Convention on the Rights of the Child requires education to prepare the child for "responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin" (article 29.1 (d)). The education of children should also be directed toward the development of respect "for the national values of the country in which the child is living, the country from which he or she may originate, and for civilizations different from his or her own" (CRC article 29.1 (c)).

Minority rights do not permit violations of the territorial integrity and independence of states Minorities should also respect the human rights of all persons Societies should engage in inter-cultural understandings