https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3857 2026-04-08T13:45:23Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1872 Key actors in Agenda- Setting on LGBTQ rights: positive and negative role Jayarathne, KL Surangika Subhashini I. INTRODUCTION We are in an era that generally accepts that every human being is born free and deserves equal rights to live their lives as they wish with freedom. But this is an almost unrealistic dream for LGBTQ groups all over the world. This is because LGBTQ rights are still not sufficiently addressed within the international human rights agenda. In the last few decades, international customary law concepts such as non-discrimination and freedom have become more prominent and visible in the international human rights agenda. This environment has motivated civil society actors, international organizations and states, to respect and ensure human rights, and they have also engaged in the process setting the international human rights agenda. This paper discusses the role of the key actors that propel the process of inclusion of LGBTQ rights in the international agenda. Objectives of the Study This research paper has two main objectives: (1). To examine the role of relevant actors in international agenda setting process vis-a-vis LGBTQ rights. (2). To identify the challenges faced by advocates of LGBTQ rights in making these part of the international human rights agenda. III. Methods and sources Method of this research will be based on non-doctrinal legal research methods (socio- legal research). Nondoctrinal legal research method is basically analysis of the formation or setting of the law with regard to three factors. These three factors are: “the legislative processes, inquiring into the initiation and formalization of law, the forces, factors or pressure groups that played significant role in its making and with what objectives” (Vibhute and Aynalem 2009 p.88). Indeed, socio legal approach mentions how social factors impact upon the formation of law and human rights. I selected this method because, I also focus on the factors that keep sexual minority rights out of the international human rights agenda, and actors who play major role in agenda setting. This method is helps to understand how social factors affect agenda setting with regard to LGBTQ rights. The primary sources that used for this study include international human rights documents such as Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), UN charter, other relevant UN resolutions, International Covenant on Civil and political Rights (ICCPR), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW), Yogyakarta principles, and advocacy and policy documents regarding LGBTQ rights. The secondary sources include books, journal articles, and research papers and write ups about LGBTQ rights. IV. Research Puzzle My main research question is: Why have LGBTQ rights not featured adequately on the international human rights agenda? There are two hypotheses that are used in this research. The first one is that the lack of clarity about sexual minority rights has been a barrier to its inclusion in international human rights agenda. Second hypothesis is that contrary to the generally positive roles attributed to civil society actors, anti- LGBTQ rights civil society organizations have negatively affected the inclusion of sexual minority rights in international human rights agenda. V. Discussion The global civil society plays a major role in shaping human rights agenda, because they are directly involved in framing issues and decision making processes. “According to Risse (2002) the fact that Non-Governmental Organizations are primarily active within the agenda formation of global politics is not surprising as they provide moral authority” (Lewin and Meyer 2002). International organizations have the main responsibility to develop international human rights policy and standards, which can also be used to monitor states. International Organizations such as the UN works as a platform for states to discuss international issues, but they can also be autonomous actors in pushing forward the human rights agenda. Furthermore, states are major actors who can translate the human rights agenda into reality through their positive behavior. But all these actors play both negative and positive roles in the agenda setting process because while some push LGBTQ rights into the human rights agenda, others block the same. VI. Conclusion Civil society actors tend to play more of a negative rather than positive role when it comes to international agenda setting in relation to LGBTQ rights. Usually, NGOs are seen to play a positive role regarding issues such as environment, health and human rights. They do a remarkable task in addressing problems in the world. In the case of LGBTQ rights, there are few actors such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty international that play a crucial supportive role in agenda setting. But there are many other actors who, with their beliefs on religion, family, marriage and reproduction, block any progress in sexual minority rights. Even the UN does not provide enough space for LGBTQ advocates to negotiate the issues that should be addressed in the human rights agenda. In certain instances, the UN has also cancelled some of LGBTQ organizations’ UN consultative status. Full text article 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1871 Exclusion within Exclusion: Gender Stereotyping of Vocational Training in Prison Thilanka, W.A.S. Abstract – The main objective of the study is to examine the gender differences in implementing vocational training programmes in prison. Sri Lanka has come to believe that prisoners should be economically rehabilitated and integrated to society. In this process, being gender neutral is important as the current economic system of the country requires the productive employment of both males and females to uplift the family economy which can in return avoid illegal conducts of people to a considerable degree. To make this a success, economic rehabilitation should be able to occupy the ex-prisoners in a standard livelihood minimizing the recidivism and reconviction. However, the rates of recidivism and reconviction have not been reduced making rehabilitation questionable. Female recidivism is at higher occurrence comparing to the total prisoner population. Therefore, the research examines the gender issues related with economic rehabilitation. The Magazine prison was selected as the field of study and purposive sampling was used. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected. In depth and focused group interviews and non-participant observation method were used to collect data. Data was analysed and presented in a descriptive way using narrative analysis. Through findings, it was revealed that prison overcrowding has made it hard to deliver a quality vocational training and the gender neutral access to training is limited. It has been hard to categorize prisoners according to offences or needs and all are placed in cells together. Saliently, gender stereotyping in vocational training has limited the positive impact. Additionally, the officers are not well trained to deliver an effective and gender neutral vocational training. Society labels and discourages ex-prisoners without any trust on rehabilitation. This has become a more critical issue for female ex prisoners. Lack of financial resources and outdated programmes are dominant in minimizing the effectiveness. Finally, the most required but least planned after care process has made the issue more critical. The policy makers, the Department of Prisons and society have been provided with recommendations through the study. Full text article 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1870 Exploring the Awareness of Waste Disposal and Suggesting Future Suggestions for managing waste: A Case Study in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna Peramunagama, S.S.M.; Sandarenu, P.C.; Samaraweera, G.C. Abstract- Wastes are categorized into several types such as commercial waste, solid waste, construction waste and medical waste. Waste management is currently one of the most important aspects in each society that should be paid attention. In traditional concept waste has no value and is unavoidable. Growing population and rapid urbanization in each country, increases solid waste products. Basically, generated solid waste is related to the population’s lifestyle and the economic situation in which the people are engaged. This research aims to study the present waste disposal methods and current program about the waste management in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. The major objectives of the study were to find out the relationship between gender and area of residence with the awareness of three waste disposal methods; namely reuse, recycle and reduce. As the waste problem is a critical problem in the faculty at present, finding solutions is needed for the development of a sustainable waste management system in the faculty. All final year students (143) in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. To analyse the collected data descriptive and correlation co-efficient analyses were used. According to the data, the highest percentage (40%) of respondents were in 25 yearage group. From the participants 67% of respondents were female and 33% were male. Out of the female population 87% of them were aware of three waste disposal methods and the awareness of the male population was 67%. Apart for the present waste disposal methods in the Faculty, students preferred to collect in one place or basket, burn and land filling. Moreover, they suggested waste separation, handing over suitable waste to collecting points, introducing a reuse system to the faculty and cattle waste for bio gas production. According to the correlation coefficient analysis, results revealed that, there is a strong, high marked association (Cramer’s V 0.787) between area of residence and the awareness of three waste disposal methods, but there is no significant association between gender and awareness of waste disposal methods. Full text article 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1869 Crop Farm baseline Survey in Eravur Pattu of Batticaloa District with Special Reference to Socioeconomic Factors, Cultivation Practices, Extension Services and Constraints Narmilan, A; Puvanitha, S Abstract- The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing the adoption of agricultural practices among small holder farmers in Eravur Pattu of the Batticaloa District. Agriculture is the principal source of food and livelihood in Sri Lanka. Demographically it is the broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economy of developing countries like Sri Lanka. A predesigned questionnaire was used to find out the socioeconomic factors, cultivation practices, extension services and constraints in crop cultivation. Primary and Secondary data were collected from the Agrarian service centres and crop farmers by means of a questionnaire survey among randomly selected 120 farmers during the period of April to June 2016 in 3 AI ranges in Eravur Pattu. The information regarding those factors and issues were analyzed using SPSS (Version 22) and Microsoft Excel package. It showed that 84% of the respondents were male and the majority of respondents (48%) fall between the age range of 30-40years. 48% are at primary education level and the size of the farming of 44% is 5 members. The main occupation of 56% is farming. The study further revealed that 54% of the farmers use Gravity irrigation (tank). When considering the land ownership, all farmers (100%) have their own land in the Maha season. But 58% of farmers have their own land cultivation in the Yala season. 64% of the farmers have leased land for doing cultivation in Maha season and 56% in Yala season. 82 farmers (68%) cultivate paddy in large scale at both Maha and Yala seasons. At the time of survey, Brinja, Maize and Groundnut are the crops being cultivated widely in large scale as well as in their home garden. Full text article 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z