A panel of experts will hold an online forum for non-Bermudian residents affected by domestic abuse this weekend.The Foreign Women Club of Bermuda and Under Konstruction, a support agency, said they wanted people from overseas to know that they were not alone, even if their family and friends are in other countries. Shervonne Hollis, the founder of the club, said: “Bermuda is a small-knit community, everybody is somehow related or knows each other.“Oftentimes, victims feel like they’re speaking with someone’s family or friends when they reach out to certain entities.”She said that, in her experience, women from a variety of backgrounds felt that they struggled to get enough support from “the system”.Ms Hollis added: “I’ve come across a lot who shared their stories with me and they’re kind of afraid to come out, but if I could be the voice and ask some questions on their behalf, then why not?”She teamed up with Tina Laws, a relationship specialist and the founder of Under Konstruction, to organise a “robust discussion” on the subject from 2pm tomorrow. They will be joined by Jenae Smith, a domestic violence liaison officer with the Bermuda Police Service, Simone Smith-Bean, a lawyer, and Elaine Butterfield, the executive director of the Women’s Resource Centre.Ms Hollis said that she wanted to start a discussion and help women overseas residents “feel like they are part of the Bermudian society”.She added: “I want them to feel like they can call up someone they need to call up and not feel like ‘I don’t want to call up because they might be related or they might tell, because nothing is private’.”Organisers added women and men were welcome to join the online forum, part of a collaborative series and which will be streamed live on the Under Konstruction Facebook page.Ms Laws said: “The more people that are aware of it the better. It’s for anybody, but we really want the foreign women to know that they don’t have to stay stuck in that relationship.”She hopes a discussion for male victims of domestic abuse would be held at a later date.The talk tomorrow is expected to cover information about what happened when domestic abuse was reported to the police as well as legal rights for non-Bermudian partners.Ms Laws added that Ms Butterfield will provide information on support and services available to women who have survived abusive relationships.She explained: “Foreign women are some of the women that do the most professional positions on this island, so I think it’s so important that we have that.”Employers were also encouraged to watch the discussion to learn how they can help staff affected by domestic abuse.Ms Laws said: “I just want people to be informed so that they can eliminate some of those stigmas and criteria people think are attached to domestic violence.”She explained that foreign women and men often believed that they would have fewer rights than their Bermudian partner if they chose to leave an abusive relationship.But Ms Laws added: “I think it’s so important that we let them know that, firstly, the law is law because domestic violence is a criminal offence and they also need to know that they will be heard.” • For more information or to watch the discussion visit www.facebook.com/underkonstructionbda