about renfa
our values
our vision
Our mission
our organization
Antiprohibitionism as a commitment
The National Network of Anti-Prohibitionist Feminists (RENFA) is a feminist political organization, antiracist, suprapartisan, and anti-capitalist, created to operate in a network in the fight for human rights and the political empowerment of women and trans people. Our goal is to transform the models of control by the systems of racist, patriarchal, and capitalist oppression, especially in the field of drug policies. We are organized into 16 local collectives in the following states: AL, AP, BA, CE, MG, PA, PE, RJ, RN, RR, SE, SC, SP, and in the Federal District.
Strengthening support networks and feminist anti-prohibitionist political articulations, promoting anti-racism, harm reduction, anti-punitivist struggle, penal abolitionism, reproductive justice, and the defense of fundamental rights for historically marginalized populations.
- Autonomy and freedom
- Pragmatism and self-determination
- Respect for diversity and equity
- Political ethics and critical stance
- Courage, creativity, and boldness
- Truth, memory, and justice
- Democracy and social transformation
- Teamwork and responsibility
- Care for oneself, for the community, and for the environment
Building a fair and egalitarian society, free from asylums, prisons, and racist, cisheteropatriarchal and capitalist oppressions, where all people have autonomy over their bodies, territories, and forms of existence, ensuring the right to freedom, comprehensive health, popular education, dignified housing, and social justice.
RENFA was founded in 2016 in response to the need to fight for women's rights, especially for drug users. Its formation resulted from the gathering of feminist activists from 9 states in Brazil, who met in 2014 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. These women promote the struggle for a reform of the current drug policy in their territories, focusing on the defense of the rights of the groups most affected by the prohibitionist model - an example being incarcerated women, their families, sex workers, mothers who are victims of state violence, women in homelessness, sex workers, and LBTQIAP + individuals, most of whom are Black.
timeline
about renfa
who we are
We are anti-prohibitionists because we understand that the current drug legislation, based on prohibitionism, is responsible for serious violations of democracy and human rights of the population. We denounce the model of the "war on drugs" as a war directed against poor and black people, which promotes violent intervention by the State, high incarceration rates, and harm to individuals and communities. We are also aware of the impact that current drug policy has on the lives of women, who, before being incarcerated, lose their family members due to state violence or are unable to exercise their right to motherhood. According to the National Penitentiary Department (Depen), the female prison population has increased by 556% in the last 12 years, while the male population has risen by 130%.
We believe that it is necessary to build a social project of radical transformation, from a democratic perspective that is feminist, antiracist, anticapitalist, and antipunitivist.
letter of principles
© 2024
2004
- Actions for the legalization of marijuana in some cities in Brazil.
2010
- The Antiprohibition Collective CannabisAtiva and the Antiprohibition Debate Cycle of UFRN are established in RN. This is the most regular annual event on the antiprohibition theme in Latin America. In 2019, it was renamed the UFRN Antiprohibition Debate Cycle Leilane Assunção in honor of its founder.
2013
- ABORDA meeting in Aracaju. Connection with harm reduction activists, connection with the movement in DF.
- Creation of the Antiprohibition Collective of Pernambuco.
2014
- Meeting of Antiprohibition Collectives and Activists (RENCAA) at the UNE Biennial, at FND / UFRJ - RJ. Several women realize that the men blocked them and did not want women to discuss feminism.
- Meeting of feminist activists in the city of Rio de Janeiro begins to articulate RENFA. The meeting of women the day after RENCAA had the presence of 40 women to talk about feminism and antiprohibitionism. It is the first time the possibility of creating a national articulation of women drug users is discussed.
2015
- National Meeting of Antiprohibition Collectives and Activists (ENCA). The women of RENFA participated in organizing the National Meeting of Antiprohibition Collectives and Activists (ENCA), which brought together about 600 activists from all over Brazil in the city of Recife to discuss drug policy models and alternatives.
- March of black women.
2016
- Foundation of RENFA: Founding plenary of RENFA within ENCAA, reading of the manifesto with the presence of 100 women representatives from the 18 States where the Network was present.
2017
- September National Meeting of Antiprohibition Feminists (ENFA) in Recife/PE.
- Creation of the Latin American Network - Montevideo / Uruguay within the scope of EFLAC - based on a project approved by PE with Fundo Elas.
2018
- Start of the Feminist Agenda for Decarceration. The National Network of Antiprohibition Feminists (RENFA) promoted the Feminist Agenda for Decarceration in 2018 and 2019, a project carried out with the support of Fundo Brasil for research and assistance for female decarceration in the cities of Recife and Rio de Janeiro.
- RENFA participates in the construction of 8M across Brazil.
- RENFA participates in the construction of the Marijuana March in several states.
- National Planning Meeting in PE.
2019
- 31st anniversary audience of RD - DF. Bill project establishing the national day of RD.
- National Meeting of the Decarceration Agenda in Fortaleza.
- National Planning Meeting in CE.
- PopRua tent in DF.
- Feminist Antiracist Parliamentary Front.
- School of Harm Reduction.
- March of the Margaridas.
2020
- Solidarity actions distributing food baskets and harm reduction kits.
- We launched 3 candidacies and the manifesto “My party is Black feminism.”
- Blackening Politics.
- João Miguel case.
- Political imprisonment of Sara and Débora and campaign.
- Approval of National School of Gender and Sexuality.
- Communication actions.
- Approval of the OSF project, Fundo Elas, and international fund.
2021
- Virtual launch of the Antiracist Feminist Manual for Decarceration.
- National Planning Meeting in BA.
- Course "Antiprohibitionist Feminism: Decolonizing to Advance."
- Lives of the Latin American Articulation of Antiprohibition Feminists.
RENFA across the country