Law question about majority and minorities?

Question

I need to analyze this statement:
“Human Rights legislation attempts to balance minority and majority rights.”

Does majority mean, the majority of people that are for one cause or law, or does it mean ethnic majority? what about minority?

Answer 1

Could be an ethnic majority/minority, a religious majority/minority, or a majority or minority point of view.

For example, the majority of Virginians are Caucasian. 50 years ago it would also have been true to say the majority of Virginians supported segregation. Federal human rights laws were therefore passed to protect the ethnic minority from decisions made by the ethnic majority.

Now, if most Virginians were opposed to segregation then legislation to protect the rights of the minority wouldn't have been needed, even though they were still a minority.

Richard

Answer 2

The fact that it lists "human rights" would lead me to assume that it is referring to race.

When referring to the majority(numbers) for the cause of the law, a more accurate depiction would be majority rules, but the minority have rights.

Hope that made sense and I didnt confuse you.