Addressing Gender-Based Violence

Carceral Reforms vs Abolitionist strategies

When people first learn about prison and police abolition, a common response is: But what about the rapists? Sexual violence is often seen as an act so serious it can’t go unpunished.

Gender-based and sexual violence are widespread, pervasive, and urgently need to be addressed. Yet the criminal legal system routinely fails to keep us safe from harm. In fact, it often inflicts more harm, particularly on those from marginalised and oppressed groups.

We urgently need to build alternative strategies to address gender-based and sexual violence that don’t rely on prisons, police and punishment. What would abolitionist responses to sexual and gender-based violence look like?

This resource offers some ideas. It has two parts:

1. A chart, that compares carceral reforms and abolitionist strategies.

2. A booklet that explains each strategy in more detail and considers the strengths and pitfalls of different approaches.

This resource is designed as a discussion tool. It doesn’t provide all the answers but it offers some suggestions for you to consider. It has been developed collaboratively by us for over a year.

We encourage you to:

• Download the booklet & chart

• Join a discussion group (or set one up - using our handy guide!)

• Consider how you might apply this discussion tool in your own community, school, workplace, neighbourhood, etc.

The PDF versions in the links below are designed for screen-viewing. If you want printer-friendlyversions, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Want to join our launch event or attend a discussion group? Check out our upcoming events for this resource here.