AMNESTY International UK has referred itself to the charity regulator after a report branded a a sexual violence support centre founded by JK Rowling as “anti-rights”.
A report published by the UK branch of the human rights charity listed Beira’s Place in Edinburgh among more than 100 organisations described as part of an anti-rights movement.
Beira’s Place describes itself as providing support as a “women-only” charity, and it does not hire or provide services to transgender women.
The Amnesty report – titled “A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK” – was later removed and the charity apologised.
It said the report had not gone through “the established internal review processes”.
Lawyers acting on behalf of Beira’s Place accused the human rights charity of defamation and have threatened legal action unless it permanently withdraws the report, apologises and commissions an external review into why it was published.
We told how Rowling also urged other organisations who were included in the list – which she deemed a “blacklist” – to apply to the JK Rowling Women’s Fund to help with legal costs.
A total of 51 gender-critical groups were added to the list of groups as part of an examination of the “rise of an anti-rights movement targeting the rights of women and LGBT+ people in the UK”.
Other named organisations are For Women Scotland (FWS), and policy group Murray Blackburn Mackenzie, who campaign to protect what they describe as "sex-based rights".
Amnesty's report said the groups were named because they “visibly oppose the rights” of LGBT+ people.
On Thursday, the Charity Commission confirmed that Amnesty International UK had referred itself by submitting a serious indecent report. The commission is now considering whether it needed to take action.
“We can confirm that concerns have been raised with us about a briefing published by Amnesty International UK charitable trust,” a spokesperson for the Charity Commission said.
“In line with our guidance, the charity has also submitted a serious incident report. We are assessing the matters raised to determine what, if any, role there might be for us as charity law regulator.”
It is understood a formal investigation has not been launched.
Rowling posted on Twitter/X on Friday: "I’m often tickled by press articles asserting that I’m furious about things that actually gave me a proper belly laugh.
"This time, though, knock yourselves out. Amnesty’s attack on Beira’s Place has left me burning with the kind of fury that mounts with every passing hour."
Previously, Amnesty said that the list was “promptly removed” as the language used in the report did not reflect its 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,” a spokesperson said.
Beira’s Place was set up by Rowling in 2022 to provide a “women-only space” for survivors of sexual violence.
Lesley Johnston, its chief executive, said it was “inexplicable” it had been included in a list of groups deemed “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.
FWS, which won the Supreme Court case in 2025 which ruled that the term “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex, were also included.
The report said that the ruling had contributed to a “significant decline in protection for LGBT+ rights”.
It comes as the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) updated code of practice is due to come into force on August 5, despite warnings that it will have a “devastating impact” on transgender people across the UK.
The updated code came in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling and sets out that facilities must be used on the basis of biological sex in order for it to be classed as single-sex under the Equality Act.
This means single-sex toilets, changing rooms, hospital wards and refuges must be used based on a person’s birth sex, not the gender with which they identify.
Transgender women are therefore excluded from using female facilities, while transgender men are barred from male facilities.
The Scottish Greens have said they believe the guidance will cement exclusion and segregation into the statutory rules that businesses, services, and public bodies across the UK are strongly encouraged to follow.
