challenging criminalization

The Challenging Criminalization Globally campaign is founded on a very strong principle of collaboration to bring together a wide and diverse community of partners across a diverse array of movements and sectors working to challenge various punitive laws and policies curtailing the agency and autonomy of our communities, therefore demanding accountability for our lives, human rights, well being and dignity. Ricki Kgositau | Accountability International

CREA’s framework for preventing and responding to carcerality and gender-based violence focuses on the rights, well-being, priorities and perspectives of sex workers, sexual- and gender-diverse persons, young persons, people with disabilities and other structurally excluded women. CREA seeks to:

• build awareness and engagement on challenging criminalization
• provide evidence of the harm caused by criminalization
• build cross-movement solidarity on the negative consequences of criminalization from a feminist lens

CREA’s advocacy not only challenges punitive laws, policies and practices but also contests social and cultural practices that systemically undermine the rights of structurally excluded people. Too often, criminalization in the name of “protecting” groups considered “vulnerable” instead puts them at risk of discrimination, violence, harassment, extortion and incarceration. Little attention is given to education and public health evidence supporting non-punitive, rights-affirming measures to address violence and discrimination.

CREA’s intersectional lens recognizes that different communities face and deal with criminalization in different ways. We contest laws, policies and practices that deny autonomy and perpetuate discrimination and violence against historically stigmatized groups. Our work questions the norms that penalize non-normative gender expression, identity, sexuality and form of work.

CREA prompts feminist movements and allies to rethink their approach to criminalization of gender-based violence and other harms against women* and young people.

CREA created the 2019 campaign “#FLAWSINLAWS: Rethink my freedoms, Reimagine my rights, Realize my futures” in partnership with seven groups in six countries: Aahung (Pakistan), YUWA (Nepal), Bandhu (Bangladesh), YP Foundation (India), Youth Advocacy Network (Sri Lanka), Hidden Pockets (India) and Arrow (Malaysia).

#FLAWSINLAWS used online and offline spaces to highlight the impact of criminalization of gender identity and expression, sexuality and sexual reproductive health on young people’s rights. CREA also created knowledge resources expanding on these concepts and envisioning alternatives for securing justice and accountability and supports sex worker collectives and organizations globally in their advocacy for decriminalization.

Our anti-criminalization work includes capacity-building and alliance-strengthening with feminist movements, as well as supporting advocacy within UN spaces. CREA continues to seek collaborative opportunities to challenge criminalization.

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Your Protection Doesn’t Protect Me

This digital advocacy campaign called for rights-based solutions instead of protectionist approaches for preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV).

#FLAWSINLAWS

Challenging criminalization of young people’s sexuality by questioning protectionist approaches, law and policies.