The multicultural perspective on rights challenges the traditional liberal notion of universal, undifferentiated individual rights by arguing for the recognition of group-differentiated rights. This approach posits that a truly just society must acknowledge and accommodate the distinct identities, cultures, and needs of various minority groups, including indigenous peoples, national minorities, and immigrant communities.

Proponents like Will Kymlicka argue that individual freedom is deeply intertwined with cultural membership. They propose categories of group-specific rights, such as self-government rights (for national minorities and indigenous peoples to maintain distinct societies), polyethnic rights (for immigrant groups to express their cultural particularity without fear of discrimination), and special representation rights (to address historical disadvantages or underrepresentation). This perspective aims to ensure that minority cultures are not marginalized or assimilated by the dominant culture, thereby promoting a more inclusive form of equality. Critics, however, raise concerns about potential conflicts between group rights and individual liberties, the risk of essentializing cultures, and the fragmentation of national unity.