A lunchtime march for women’s rights is to be held today.

The event is being hosted by Women’s Action and Change Today, and Move Bermuda Forward.

A spokeswoman for Women’s ACT said that “people should be safe from abuse, whether it be sexual, physical, mental or financial”.

She added: “Since women are most often on the receiving end of such abuse, we are focusing our efforts on this segment of the population.”

The spokeswoman said that statistics from the United States showed that one in four women experienced domestic violence.

She added: “This is a topic that is often subjected to taboo and silence in our community.

“Bringing light to this subject is necessary in order to provide the appropriate safe havens and supporting programmes to those who need it.”

The spokeswoman said the groups wanted to the creation of refuges for woman and children to escape abuse, bolster support resources for victims and improve public education.

Dany Pen, the founder of Women’s ACT, Laurie Shiell, executive director of the Centre Against Abuse, and Robyn Swan, of Move Bermuda Forward, will speak at the event.

Sexual violence, women’s healthcare support, mental health, bullying, including online abuse and employment will all be among the topics on the agenda for discussion.

It is the third time the march has been held on the island.

The free event will start at Queen Elizabeth Park in Hamilton at noon.