Amnesty ‘regret’ over criticism of JK Rowling’s sexual violence support centre
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Rowling set up Beira’s Place after a row about women’s-only services
ByCalum Watson
BBC Scotland
Amnesty International UK has said it regrets publishing a report which classed a sexual violence support centre set up by JK Rowling in Edinburgh as “anti-rights”.
Beira’s Place was established in 2022 by the Harry Potter author and other campaigners who claimed it fulfilled an unmet need for women-only support in the city.
The facility was listed as a gender critical organisation in a briefing issued last week by Amnesty entitled “A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK”.
The human rights charity now says the briefing was uploaded without going through the normal checks, and it has been temporarily withdrawn while an internal review takes place.
In a statement it said: “We regret that this briefing was uploaded to our website without going through the established internal review processes that are in place to ensure consistency, accuracy and alignment with Amnesty International UK’s positions.
“Its use of language does not reflect the position of Amnesty International UK which is why it was promptly removed.
“We remain committed to defending human rights, including both the rights of women and the rights of trans people.”
Image source, Beira’s Place
Image caption, JK Rowling with founding board members of Beira’s Place, former prison governor Rhona Hotchkiss, former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, GP Margaret McCartney, and director of For Women Scotland, Susan Smith
Rowling, herself a survivor of domestic violence, set up and funded Beira’s Place after a row over the management of the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre which at the time was being run by a transgender woman.
The author said it was important that survivors of abuse had the option of “women-centred” and “women-delivered” care.
The new centre was named after the Scottish goddess of winter who Rowling said embodied female wisdom, strength and regeneration.
‘Offensive’ description
The Amnesty International report prompted a backlash when it listed Beira’s Place as a gender-critical organisation, one of 117 which it characterised as being part of an anti-rights movement.
Also listed was the campaign group For Women Scotland, which brought the legal case that culminated in the UK Supreme Court ruling that “woman” refers to biological sex for the purposes of equalities law.
The Amnesty report said the ruling had contributed to a “significant decline in protection for LGBT+ rights”.
Legal action
The chief executive of Beira’s Place, Lesley Johnston, said it was inexplicable that it had been described as an anti-rights organisation.
She added: “This is deeply offensive to Beira’s Place staff who work day in day out to support survivors, and to the women who need and use our service.”
For Women Scotland has called for an apology over the way it has been characterised and demanded the Amnesty report be withdrawn permanently.
A number of other groups characterised as “anti-rights” by the report have also written letters of complaint.
In a post on X, Rowling has invited any women’s organisation targeted by what she described as the “Amnesty blacklist” to apply to the JK Rowling Women’s Fund for support if they are looking to take legal action.
Rowling also offered financial support for legal action by gay men’s organisations on the list, and said they could contact her via her website.
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