NRI Mridul Wadhwa Resigns After Review Reveals Failures at
Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre

Los Angeles/Sep 14, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

An independent review commissioned by Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS) has uncovered significant issues at the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC), leading to the resignation of its chief executive, Mridul Wadhwa. The review highlighted that some women who sought help from the centre were "damaged" by their experiences.

Mridul Wadhwa, a trans woman, stepped down following the report's findings that she "did not understand the limits of her role's authority" and had "failed to uphold professional standards." The review, conducted by independent consultant Vicky Ling, found that ERCC's systems were insufficiently robust and criticized the centre's management of women-only spaces, among other issues.

The investigation was prompted by a constructive dismissal claim filed by former ERCC worker Roz Adams in May. The tribunal concluded that Adams faced harassment and discrimination for seeking guidance on how to handle a situation involving a non-binary support worker. The tribunal also noted that Adams, who holds gender-critical views, was subjected to a "heresy hunt."

Adams has since joined Beira's Place, a support service for survivors of sexual violence founded by author JK Rowling.
In response to the review, ERCC's board acknowledged the need for leadership change and committed to addressing the review's recommendations. The board stated that a new CEO will be appointed and emphasized their commitment to improving the service based on the review's findings.

The RCS review found several critical failings at ERCC, including inadequate survivor-focused strategies, a failure to protect women-only spaces, and weak governance. The review recommended that ERCC clarify its definition of "woman" and ensure the protection and visibility of women-only spaces.

Despite these issues, the review acknowledged that ERCC continues to provide high-quality services to many survivors. Rape Crisis Scotland expressed serious concern over the centre's failure to offer dedicated women-only spaces for approximately 16 months and has halted new referrals to ERCC until an action plan is implemented.

Campaign group For Women Scotland criticized both ERCC and RCS for their handling of the situation, questioning their commitment to genuine reform and accountability.

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