Amnesty International UK has withdrawn a briefing that described Beira's Place as anti-rights. The organisation said it regrets publishing the report and removed it while an internal review takes place.
The briefing was issued last week and listed Beira's Place among 117 organisations in A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK. Amnesty International UK said its wording does not reflect its position, and said it remains committed to defending human rights, including both the rights of women and the rights of trans people.
Beira's Place in Edinburgh
Beira's Place was established in 2022 by JK Rowling and other campaigners who said it filled an unmet need for women-only support in Edinburgh. JK Rowling set up and funded the centre after a row over the management of the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, saying survivors of abuse should be able to access “women-centred” and “women-delivered” care.
Amnesty International UK said the briefing was uploaded without going through the normal checks. Its statement 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.” It added: “Its use of language does not reflect the position of Amnesty International UK which is why it was promptly removed.”
Lesley Johnston responds
Lesley Johnston, chief executive of Beira's Place, said the description was “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.” She also said “it was inexplicable that it had been described as an anti-rights organisation.”
That criticism sits alongside the organisation's own stated position that it supports both women's rights and trans people's rights. The dispute came after the briefing linked Beira's Place and For Women Scotland to an anti-rights movement, and said the UK Supreme Court ruling had contributed to a “significant decline in protection for LGBT+ rights”.
For Women Scotland and review
For Women Scotland was also listed in the briefing and has called for an apology over how it was characterised. The group has demanded that the report be withdrawn permanently, while Amnesty International UK has said only that it is conducting an internal review.
For now, the briefing is off the website and under review. The unresolved issue is what, if anything, Amnesty International UK changes in its classification process before any revised version appears.
