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Last chance to run for the Martlets in the Brighton Half Marathon

The Martlets Hospice offers runners one last chance to take up the challenge of this year’s Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday, February 28.

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All standard entries have sold out, however, the Hove based charity has a limited number of charity spaces still available, but they must be filled by Friday January 28.

Runners can choose to buy a place from the Martlets for £85 (no sponsorship required) or ask family and friends to sponsor them to complete the challenge of the 13.2 mile race.

Funds raised will help the Martlets provide end of life care to adults who are affected by terminal and life limiting illness, as well as caring for their families and loved ones.

Facilities include an 18 bed In-Patient Unit, Hospice at Home service, Patient and Family Support team and Martlets Day Services.

The Martlets receives less than a third of their funding from the government and must raise £11,000 a day to care for patients and their families.

If you want to run for the Martlets in the Brighton Half Marathon or any other running events throughout the country, telephone Clem Hunnisett in the Martlets Fundraising office on 01273 747455 or email: clem.hunnisett@martlets.org.uk 

For more information about the Martlets, click here:

 

New Report assesses inequality in Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands – new report finds traditions which emphasise difference must be challenged to address inequality.

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A new report published by the Equal Rights Trust exposes the extent of discrimination and inequality experienced by groups including women; persons with disabilities; lesbian, gay and bisexual persons; and persons living with HIV in Solomon Islands.

Stand Up and Fight: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Solomon Islands also concludes that a tendency for people to identify strongly as members of kinship groups or residents of a particular island, rather than as Solomon Islanders has promoted difference and fostered ethnic tensions.

The report argues that if Solomon Islands is to move on from the conflict which afflicted the country between 1998 and 2003, its people must stand up and fight traditions which exacerbate difference on the basis of ethnicity, gender, disability and sexual orientation.

In particular, the report highlights widespread discrimination against women which is directly connected to gender stereotypes portraying women as inferior to men.

Dr Dimitrina Petrova, Executive Director of the Equal Rights Trust, said: “We found that women are effectively second-class citizens in Solomon Islands; they are invisible in all areas of politics and government and do not participate equally with men in any area of life. Violence against women is alarmingly widespread and widely accepted by both men and women. When in 2012 I asked a group of 16 women in Honiara to say if they had experienced partner violence, they all said yes, without exception.” 

The report investigates patterns of ethnic discrimination, finding that in a country which presents itself as “homogenous”, there are serious concerns about discrimination between those of different wantok (the Pijin for “one talk”, a community group based on shared linguistic and cultural heritage).

Dr Petrova continued: “Our research found compelling evidence of concern amongst Solomon Islanders that those in positions of power abuse their authority and make corrupt decisions in favour of their wantok group.”

In addition to discrimination against women and discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, the report finds that:

♦ persons with disabilities are perceived as “cursed” and denied equality of participation in education, employment, healthcare and other services;

♦ lesbian, gay and bisexual persons are subject to severe social stigma and are largely invisible in society as a result; and

♦ persons living with HIV lack access to services, including health services, as a result of fear fuelled by prejudice and ignorance of the disease.

Yet Stand Up and Fight, published in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) – Solomon Islands Country Office and the SPC Regional Rights Resource Team, is launched at a time of great opportunity for Solomon Islands.

The country is entering its thirteenth year of constitutional reform and consultation of a draft constitution to replace its existing one is currently underway. The report outlines how Solomon Islands should reform its Constitution to increase protection for the rights to equality and non-discrimination. It calls on all those affected by discrimination to use the reform process to stand up and fight for equality for all. It also makes a number of other recommendations including the repeal of discriminatory laws and the enactment of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation.

The report is published on the eve of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Solomon Islands on Monday, January 25 – a process which seeks to address threats posed to the protection of human rights in the given country.

The Equal Rights Trust has written to states participating in the Review urging them to make recommendations based on the report’s conclusions and recommendations.

The Equal Rights Trust is an independent international organisation whose purpose is to combat discrimination and advance equality worldwide.

To read the report online, click here:

Donation enables family members to stay with terminally ill patients

Martlets Hospice receives £1,625 to fund two beds for partners and family members of terminally ill patients in Brighton.

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L-R: Imelda Glackin – Martlets CEO, Adam Wilkins – Santander , Sally Brighton Director of Income Generation Martlets

The donation was made by the Santander Foundation which offers grants to UK registered charities for projects that help disadvantaged people in local communities.

The Martlets Hospice provides end of life care services to adults with terminal illness including cancer. The grant will purchase two beds for partners and other visitors to be able to spend the night on the InPatient Unit.

Imelda Glackin, CEO at Martlets Hospice, said: “We are very grateful to the Santander Foundation for donating these much-needed funds to support our charity. The Martlets Hospice provides end of life care to adults in Brighton and Hove and gives support to their families. We would also like to thank everyone who supported our appeal for funds and especially members of the LGBT community who voted for us at Brighton Pride.”

Adam Wilkins Local Business Manager at Santander’s Brighton branch, said: “The Santander Foundation makes hundreds of donations every year to good causes throughout the UK. Our branch is committed to playing a key part in the community and we are delighted to be supporting The Martlets Hospice, and hope the donation makes a real difference to local people.”

 

The Santander Foundation provides grants to UK registered charities that help disadvantaged people in communities where Santander has a presence.

For more information about the Martlets, click here: 

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