Mainstream feminism in Britain is commonly preoccupied with the desire for a seat at the table of power; for a stake in the empire, for legislative wins and more women in board rooms and on parliamentary benches. Yet multiple, competing feminisms exist—arguably, feminist work has always been characterised by fragmentation and internal dissent. The halcyon years of the women’s liberation movement (WLM) in the 1970’s is also wrought with dissent and disagreement.

As “carceral feminism” has become ever more distilled, rigidly individualised ideas around what – and who – the “carceral feminist” is have also emerged. A process which has been accelerated with the growing interest in anti-carceral perspectives following calls to defund the police in 2020 in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter protests.

Recording & Transcript of the public launch of the Abolitionist Strategies VS Carceral Reforms Gender Based Violence Resource. Event was held in June 2024 and the speakers were Leah Cowan, Lola Olufemi and Billy

Gender Based Violence Series launch will draw on some of the focus of the Abolitionist Strategies to Gender Based Violence resource, while also teasing out some of the problems found in our current ways of conceptualising responses to gender based violence.

Irish Penal Abolition Network launch their three legged General Election Manisfesto for the upcoming elections to the Dáil in Dublin. Challenging the ‘Law & Order’ myths that more prisons will bring us safety, and connecting to what communities actually want and need- more social investment.

Join us for our autumn 2024 bookclub. We’ll be reading Why would femininsts trust the police? by Leah Cowan. Oc 22, Nov 12, Dec 3.

Our launch of the abolitionist posters commissioned as part of our Art & Abolition Leeds 2024 project

Read Dalton’s reflections on visiting Bent Bars

protecting our streets: police are never the answer? Over the last week, Britain and Ireland have witnessed escalating violence incited by far-right groups. This can’t be used to increase police powers.

Join us for our event in Leeds!

A selection of recent and forthcoming resources.

Tuesday 4 June 2024: Join us for the public launch of our new resource: ‘Addressing Gender-Based Violence: Carceral Reforms vs Abolitionist Strategies.’ Speakers include Leah Cowan, Lola Olufemi and Billy a frontline gender-based violence worker.

5 artists will be invited to produce their work to completion on topics defined in community workshops.

The parts of the state that provide welfare and the parts of the state that provide punishment are deeply intertwined and interdependent. This is especially paramount for Care Experienced people, who are the children of the state.

A selection of recent and forthcoming resources.

How can the abolitionist movement in the Global North learn from prisoner liberation movements in Palestine’s decades-long struggle for liberation and within this present moment?

A selection of recent and forthcoming resources.

Abolitionist Futures reading group starting February 2024