Harry Potter author JK Rowling
(Picture: PA Archive)JK Rowling has launched a new support centre for female survivors of sexual violence.
The Harry Potter author has funded and designed Edinburgh-based support service Beira’s Place.
For those who need it... @beirasplace https://t.co/FxO9MEd4tp
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 12, 2022
“I founded Beira’s Place to provide what I believe is currently an unmet need for women in the Lothians area,” the author said this weekend.
“As a survivor of sexual assault myself, I know how important it is that survivors have the option of women-centred and women-delivered care at such a vulnerable time. Beira’s Place will offer an increase in capacity for services in the area and will, I hope, enable more women to process and recover from their trauma.”
The board, which includes Rowling, is comprised of experts with a lifelong commitment to ending violence against women.
They include former prison governor and human rights campaigner Rhona Hotchkiss, ex Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, GP Margaret McCartney, and Susan Smith, who is director of For Women Scotland. Its CEO is Isabelle Kerr, a veteran of the Rape Crisis movement.
Ms Kerr said: “Violence against women and girls is an issue that crosses all cultures, classes, and religions. These are gendered crimes that are overwhelmingly perpetrated by men and disproportionately experienced by women.
“Beira’s Place recognises that effective sexual violence services must be independent, needs-led, and provide responsive, women-centred services so that they are free from the pressure of current political agendas. We are committed to ensuring that our service is free, confidential, and accessible to women survivors who may need it.”
The 2019 Equality Act allows Beira’s Place to exclude males for the provision of single-sex services as long as it’s “a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate end”.
The centre is named after Beira, the Scottish goddess of winter.
It comes as the Scottish government faces criticism over plans to streamline how transgender people change sex on their birth certificate.
Critics have raised concerns that the changes will open up women’s services and private spaces to abuse by male predators.
Rowling herself has faced severe criticism for her views on trans rights.
