Beira's Place, a women-only rape support centre founded by author J.K. Rowling, has responded forcefully to its inclusion in an Amnesty International report that labeled the organization as 'anti-rights.' The Edinburgh-based service described the accusation as 'deeply offensive' and 'inexplicable.'
In its first public statement since the report's publication, Beira's Place stated that Amnesty's decision to include the centre in its report, 'A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK,' was unjustified. The report had listed over 100 organizations it claimed were working against the rights of LGBT+ people.
"Beira’s Place was established in 2022 to address an unmet need for a single-sex support service for female survivors of male violence," said Chief Executive Lesley Johnston. "We are proud of our work and we know how much our service means to the women who have used it. It is inexplicable that Beira’s Place has been listed as an 'anti-rights organisation.'"
Johnston added that the designation was offensive to both the staff who support survivors and the women who utilize the service. Beira's Place provides support exclusively to biological women who have experienced sexual violence.
The centre was founded by Rowling in 2022, following controversy surrounding the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, where the former chief executive suggested that survivors objecting to support from a transgender woman should "reframe" their trauma. Rowling stated at the time that there was a clear need for a women-only service for victims of sexual violence.
Amnesty International removed its report from its website over the weekend for an internal review following widespread criticism. A spokesperson for Amnesty stated that the report was uploaded without going through established internal review processes and that its language did not reflect the positions of Amnesty International UK. The organization has not issued an apology for naming Beira's Place.