Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC) has been ordered to pay £70,000 to a former counsellor who was forced out of her job after raising concerns about women-only spaces.
Roz Adams won her case for discrimination and constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal, which also mandated the centre issue a public apology.
The tribunal ruled that ERCC had wrongly pursued disciplinary action against Adams after she stood up for a female sexual assault survivor who had requested assurances about receiving counselling from a woman.
Judge Ian McFatridge ordered the centre to pay £68,990 in redress for discrimination and constructive dismissal, including compensation for emotional pain and suffering.
The centre must also now refer survivors to Beira's Place, a women-only service established by JK Rowling, which it had previously refused to acknowledge.
The tribunal found that Adams had suffered harassment after advocating for a female victim who sought women-only counselling services.
Former CEO Mridul Wadhwa, a trans woman, was identified as the "invisible hand" behind what the tribunal described as a "heresy hunt" against Adams.
The case prompted Rape Crisis Scotland to launch an independent review of ERCC's operations.
The review was severely critical of the centre's practices, particularly regarding its lack of single-sex spaces, which it deemed "a significant breach" of national standards.
Following these findings, Wadhwa was initially "sent home" from her position and has since resigned from the organisation.
In a statement yesterday, ERCC's board issued the mandated public apology, acknowledging they had "not acted in the right way" during the employment tribunal.
"We want to publicly apologise, and we understand that Roz's actions were not motivated by transphobia, but by a genuine wish to act in the best interests of service users," the board stated.
The centre admitted they "should have listened more to Roz's concerns and never pursued disciplinary action".
ERCC confirmed it is taking steps to address both the tribunal outcomes and recommendations from the independent review.
The board emphasised their commitment to providing "a safe, accessible and inclusive service for all," noting that information about their women-only services is now available on their website.
In response to the ruling, Roz Adams expressed gratitude and said the financial compensation would allow her to "take some time to rest".
She plans to use some of the money "creatively for research-based dialogue using non-violent communication skills."
While welcoming the public apology, Adams stressed that "meaningful change" at ERCC, Rape Crisis Scotland and the Scottish government was more important.
"My priority remains that all victim-survivors of sexual violence can make a genuinely informed choice about the service they seek," she said.
Adams revealed that ERCC representatives had recently visited Beira's Place, where she now works, for a "productive meeting."
She expressed hope that this suggested "some seedlings of change and the start of bridges being built."
The case has triggered wider changes across rape crisis services in Scotland.
Glasgow's rape crisis service has severed ties with Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS), citing conflicts over the inclusion of trans women in support services.
The Glasgow service announced its intention to provide single-sex support staffed by an "all-female workforce".
RCS chief executive Sandy Brindley, who had previously supported Wadhwa's appointment despite concerns from women's organisations, is likely to step down next year.
The national body is currently working on developing a clear definition of 'woman' in response to Adams' calls for clarity.
These developments mark significant shifts in Scotland's rape crisis sector, with increasing focus on the provision of single-sex spaces and clear service definitions.
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Roz Adams won her case for discrimination and constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal, which also mandated the centre issue a public apology.
The tribunal ruled that ERCC had wrongly pursued disciplinary action against Adams after she stood up for a female sexual assault survivor who had requested assurances about receiving counselling from a woman.
Judge Ian McFatridge ordered the centre to pay £68,990 in redress for discrimination and constructive dismissal, including compensation for emotional pain and suffering.
The centre must also now refer survivors to Beira's Place, a women-only service established by JK Rowling, which it had previously refused to acknowledge.
The tribunal found that Adams had suffered harassment after advocating for a female victim who sought women-only counselling services.
Former CEO Mridul Wadhwa, a trans woman, was identified as the "invisible hand" behind what the tribunal described as a "heresy hunt" against Adams.
The case prompted Rape Crisis Scotland to launch an independent review of ERCC's operations.
The review was severely critical of the centre's practices, particularly regarding its lack of single-sex spaces, which it deemed "a significant breach" of national standards.
Following these findings, Wadhwa was initially "sent home" from her position and has since resigned from the organisation.
In a statement yesterday, ERCC's board issued the mandated public apology, acknowledging they had "not acted in the right way" during the employment tribunal.
"We want to publicly apologise, and we understand that Roz's actions were not motivated by transphobia, but by a genuine wish to act in the best interests of service users," the board stated.
The centre admitted they "should have listened more to Roz's concerns and never pursued disciplinary action".
ERCC confirmed it is taking steps to address both the tribunal outcomes and recommendations from the independent review.
The board emphasised their commitment to providing "a safe, accessible and inclusive service for all," noting that information about their women-only services is now available on their website.
In response to the ruling, Roz Adams expressed gratitude and said the financial compensation would allow her to "take some time to rest".
She plans to use some of the money "creatively for research-based dialogue using non-violent communication skills."
While welcoming the public apology, Adams stressed that "meaningful change" at ERCC, Rape Crisis Scotland and the Scottish government was more important.
"My priority remains that all victim-survivors of sexual violence can make a genuinely informed choice about the service they seek," she said.
Adams revealed that ERCC representatives had recently visited Beira's Place, where she now works, for a "productive meeting."
She expressed hope that this suggested "some seedlings of change and the start of bridges being built."
The case has triggered wider changes across rape crisis services in Scotland.
Glasgow's rape crisis service has severed ties with Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS), citing conflicts over the inclusion of trans women in support services.
The Glasgow service announced its intention to provide single-sex support staffed by an "all-female workforce".
RCS chief executive Sandy Brindley, who had previously supported Wadhwa's appointment despite concerns from women's organisations, is likely to step down next year.
The national body is currently working on developing a clear definition of 'woman' in response to Adams' calls for clarity.
These developments mark significant shifts in Scotland's rape crisis sector, with increasing focus on the provision of single-sex spaces and clear service definitions.
Find Out More...