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.

In person Reading Group in Leeds April - July 2025 announced.

Due to our current limited capacity, Abolitionist Futures will not be running our annual reading group in 2025.

Read a full digital copy of this edition of Radical Alternative to Prison’s journal “The Abolitionist” (1986) No. 22

This week saw thousands in London demanding the government go-back on their announcement to make certain farms liable for inheritance tax. 

Read a full digital copy of this edition of Radical Alternative to Prison’s journal “The Abolitionist” (1985) No. 20

Why Abolitionists must resist the assisted dying bill.

Recording & transcript: On October 15th people accross continents joined an online workshop Against Border Carcerality and towards Abolition that brought together activists, community organizers, and engaged researchers to share experiences, insights and strategies based on their ongoing struggles against border carceral systems, including detention, deportation, and encampment, across different countries and contexts. 

Read a full digital copy of this edition of Radical Alternative to Prison’s journal “The Abolitionist” (1985) No. 19

A response to political and academic discourse that has emerged in support of a devolved criminal justice system in Cymru (Wales). It challenges, from an abolitionist perspective, arguments that present devolution as the solution to what is often presented as a criminal justice system that is both failing and at breaking point.

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.

Despite the 2004 act, foxhunting has continued as if the ban did not exist. Illegal hunting, however, is just one strand to the package of harms that accompanies foxhunting, with overt and organised violence by hunts and their supporters regularly experienced by sabs and monitors.

We often talk about the mental health system being “broken”. Yet an abolitionist lens teaches us that the very idea of psychiatric institutionalisation centres around isolation and containment - not care.

This Saturday 26 October, the United Families and Friends (UFFC) will be meeting in London (Trafalgar Square) and Edinburgh (Bute House) at 12 noon. The same week that police officer Martyn Blake was acquitted of murdering Chris Kaba, it’s even more important to come together. United, we will remember those killed in custody and continue the fight for change.

25 years since the first annual procession memorialising those who died at the hands of the state, we encourage you to join UFFC and stand with bereaved families and friends in their ongoing struggles for justice.

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