Amnesty International UK has reported itself to the Charity Commission after publishing a report that described a sexual violence support centre founded by JK Rowling as 'anti-rights'. The UK branch of the global human rights charity listed Beira's Place in Edinburgh among more than 100 organisations it said were part of an anti-rights movement.
The list, titled 'A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK', was later removed after Amnesty expressed regret, saying it had not gone through 'the established internal review processes'. Lawyers acting for Beira's Place have accused Amnesty of defaming the organisation and have threatened legal action unless it apologises, permanently withdraws the report and commissions an external review.
Rowling has also invited other organisations considering legal action after being included on the list, which she described as a 'blacklist', to apply to the JK Rowling Women's Fund for help with legal costs. On Thursday, the Charity Commission confirmed that Amnesty International UK had referred itself by submitting a serious incident report, and that it was assessing the matters raised to determine what, if any, role there might be for it as regulator.
A spokesperson for Amnesty International UK said the list was 'promptly removed' as its language did not reflect the charity's position. '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,' they said. The charity added that it was committed to defending the rights of women and trans people, and that no community should be 'singled out for unfair treatment'.
Beira's Place, set up by Rowling in 2022, provides sexual violence support for women across Edinburgh and the Lothians 'in a safe, women-only space'. Its chief executive, Lesley Johnston, said it was 'inexplicable' that it had been included on the list of groups described as 'gender critical' and 'anti-rights'. '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,' she said. The list also named For Women Scotland, which won a Supreme Court case in April 2025 ruling that the term 'woman' in the Equality Act refers to a biological woman.
