leading up to International Women's Day this weekend.

The plight of millions of women will be heralded today at an event to celebrate women around the world.

Amnesty International Bermuda will hold a ceremony to mark International Women's Day at 12.30 p.m. at Wesley Methodist Church Hall in Hamilton.

The programme, "Voices of Women'' will include dramatic readings and musical performances.

This year's theme will be refugee women and children, who make up 80 percent of the world's refugee population.

The experiences of five women, from Bosnia, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Burundi and Togo, will be featured during today's presentation.

The free event will be open to the public and will be wheelchair accessible.

The Island will officially mark International Women's Day this Saturday.

Minister for Legislative Affairs and Women's Issues Lynda Milligan-Whyte yesterday said Women's Day was a chance to recognise the individual and collective accomplishments of women.

And she commended several local women, like chairman of the Task Force on the Status of Women Kim Young and organisations like the Women's Resource Centre and the Physical Abuse Centre, for their contributions to the Island.

For more information about today's Amnesty International event call 236-1120.

CHURCH CHU