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As recently resigned Global director of Comms for Amnesty Intl, we wondered if the opinions of Osama Bhutta, the cousin of the Justice Secretary, who is challenging Kenny Gibson for selection in Cunninghame North, were aligned to his former employer.
As recently resigned Global director of Comms for Amnesty Intl, we wondered if the opinions of Osama Bhutta, the cousin of the Justice Secretary, who is challenging Kenny Gibson for selection in Cunninghame North, were aligned to his former employer.
Naturally, we expect that he is probably as pro GRA reform as Amnesty - certainly given his role, we expect that he was involved in this campaign https://www.amnesty.org.uk/trans-rights?fbclid=IwAR2Otv_UWW64P9sF5Yx2GxX1jQXRXnrZBX0jVe57UncwCHbgM25ixMOAc-Q
Amnesty directs readers to Stonewall for the answers to FAQs like "Should trans women be allowed in women’s refuges?’ The fact that the answers are contrary to UK equality law and ignore the sex-based nature of VAW bypasses this human rights org.
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/LGBTQ-equality/gender-identity-beginners-guide-trans-allies
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/LGBTQ-equality/gender-identity-beginners-guide-trans-allies
We have asked Amnesty on numerous occasions why they campaign for single sex facilities for women and girls in India and Africa but against them in the UK. To date, they have not answered whether this reflects institutional sexism or racism. https://twitter.com/ForwomenScot/status/1207701634786242560?s=20
It should be noted that Yousaf is similarly confused (hypocritical?) on the subject of male bodies in the same space as vulnerable women. The man who presided over allowing them into the women's estate in the prison service wrote this: https://twitter.com/HumzaYousaf/status/1299691570011217921?s=20
Amnesty also have a troubling record concerning their views on prostitution. Their enthusiasm for decriminalisation has been met with grave - and well founded - concerns that similar systems lead to further abuse and trafficking. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/amnesty-international-publishes-policy-and-research-on-protection-of-sex-workers-rights/
As @nordicmodelnow wrote: "Amnesty is held in very high regard – so many people assume that their recommendations are based on solid research and unbiased assessment of the evidence – when on this issue, that is far from the truth." https://nordicmodelnow.org/2017/06/27/controversy-over-prostitution-at-the-amnesty-uk-agm/
Last month, Scot Gov launched a consultation on prostitution with the minister, Ash Denham, saying “Prostitution is a form of commercial sexual exploitation and is, therefore, part of what we consider to be, and respond to as, violence against women." https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sex-workers-object-to-planned-prostitution-law-d0kh2zp67
On this issue, we would be curious to know if Mr Bhutta shares the opinion of Amnesty. Amnesty look to Germany, which has seen associated issues with modern slavery and trafficking in a system described as "hell on earth".
https://www.trauma-and-prostitution.eu/en/2018/06/19/the-german-model-17-years-after-the-legalization-of-prostitution/
https://www.trauma-and-prostitution.eu/en/2018/06/19/the-german-model-17-years-after-the-legalization-of-prostitution/
There are several voices in the party of gov who, despite the evidence of harm to women, support decriminalisation (incl the women's convener). We hope that, with hustings delayed, there will be a chance to ask Mr Bhutta if he shares this cavalier attitude to women's rights.
