‘Beyond Criminalisation: Rethinking Justice, Law and the State’ is the twenty-second session of our Political Economy Teach-in Series. It was held on April 29, 2025, and delivered by Estafanía Vela Barba.

One strategy that feminists throughout the world have pursued has been criminalisation, that is, the use of criminal law – which includes the use of police and prisons – as a form to name, protect, repair, and punish gender-based violence. This has led to the creation of new crimes, to diverse and, in some cases, harsher forms of penalties, and to a series of reformed criminal law institutions, as is the case of “special” prosecutors offices. Why is it important to question the use of criminal law by feminists? What do we know about how criminal law operates? And how should this knowledge impact what we fight for, particularly when it comes to engaging with the State?

Estefanía Vela Barba studied law and works at Intersecta, a Mexican feminist research and advocacy organization committed to ending discrimination in Mexico through the promotion of intersectional, evidence-based, and non-punitive policy solutions.

Our South Feminist Political Economy Teach-in Series aims to strengthen intergenerational dialogue and build a cross-regional feminist constituency. The series covers various topics to interrogate and strengthen understanding of issues shaping conditions in the Global South.

Here is our specially curated reading list, designed to deepen your understanding of the topic and inspire meaningful discussion. It features powerful contributions from authors and thinkers across the Global South.