A new website, an open house and an empowering evening walk are three of the ways the Women's Resource Centre is marking international Domestic Violence Awareness Month during October.

The charity has coincided the launch of its revamped website with the worldwide event and hopes users will log onto www.wrcbermuda.com to find out more.

Executive director Kathy Harriott told The Royal Gazette: "Our old website had been around for quite a while and was quite outdated. We have been trying to get a new one for about three years.

"For some people, just realising they are victims of abuse is a difficult process and we wanted our website to serve as a first point of contact for people seeking more information or looking for help.

"We got the final stage of some funding from XL and used the funds to get the page up.

"Our website allows victims to research information and seek help in a way and at a time that is comfortable for them."

She added: "It's purple — the colour of women's empowerment. It's gorgeous."

She said the updated site contained masses of information on domestic violence, including safety tips and extensive contact numbers for accessing help.

Visitors to the site can also find out more about volunteering for the centre and about the two events being held in honour of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Women's Resource Centre open house on Friday is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will allow anyone attending to meet staff at the Reid Street facility (the entrance is next to Music Box) and find out more about the work done there.

"It's for anyone and everyone that's interested," said Ms Harriott. "Clients, donors, friends, relations. Whoever is interested in the centre is welcome."

A week later, on Friday, October 24, the Women's Resource Centre will hold its annual Take Back the Night Walk, which sets off from Albouy's Point at 7 p.m.

The walk is a symbolic reminder of women's right to walk safely at night without fear of violence, a commemoration of those lost due to domestic violence and an awareness-raising exercise.

Amnesty International will be there and participants will be able to sign letters of appeal for women killed or abducted in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The first 12 Amnesty members to arrive for the walk will get a free Amnesty T-shirt.

Ms Harriott said: "I think this is our fourth year and the numbers have been going up each year. People can just turn up and walk and Butterfield and Vallis will be providing some refreshments."

She said domestic violence and sexual assault often go unreported in Bermuda so accurate statistics on the scale of the problem are hard to come by.

"All forms of domestic violence have to do with the abuser's need for control," said Ms Harriott. "The abuse is never the victim's fault, although the abuser often makes them believe it is.

"Domestic violence is repetitive and life-threatening and it tends to worsen over time."

* Call the Women's Resource Centre on 295-3882.