Dandara is a Black trans woman, writer, and author of the poetry book Eu Sinto Julho. She is pursuing degrees in International Relations at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) and in Law at Veiga de Almeida University. She co-founded the nonprofit Mama Thula Association, which offers legal support to justice-involved women, trans women and their families, and she is a formerly incarcerated scholar of the Women for Access to Justice Program at the Rio de Janeiro Public Defender’s Office.
Dandara’s work focuses on issues related to the prison system and policies for supporting trans people both inside and outside prisons, with a global perspective. She actively participates in international campaigns raising awareness about the Mandela Rules, which promote the dignity and rights of people in detention.