Naomi Ormskerk is a PhD candidate at the University of Humanistic Studies (UvH). She studied Health Care Psychology (MA), with a focus on the forensic field, and Clinical Psychology (BA). Previously, she worked as a Criminology lecturer at Leiden University and VU Amsterdam and as a researcher, focused on systemic effects of addiction and on both victims and perpetrators within, amongst others, closed institutional settings operated by the state (such as prisons).
DIALOGICS OF JUSTICE
In the Dialogics of Justice project, Naomi Ormskerk studies the case of (sexual) abuse in the Church. Naomi aims to answer the following research question: what do survivors need to feel that justice, framed as recognition, has been done following historical abuse perpetrated by clergy in the Netherlands? By simultaneously studying both the cases of (sexual) abuse in the Church and forced labour imposed by nuns affiliated with the Congregation of the Good Shepherd, and by examining both victim-survivors as primary victims and their families as secondary victims, her research aims to study multiple narratives regarding the pursuit and distribution of justice. She will specifically investigate how a systemic approach can contribute to a broadening of justice mechanisms. Naomi has an interest in the relational and multigenerational aspect of victimology and justice.
Contact: n.ormskerk@uvh.nl
PUBLICATIONS
Historical abuse in Dutch Catholic institutions: A qualitative evaluation of victim-survivors’ experiences with redress procedures
Naomi Ormskerk, Maarten Kunst & Nicole Immler
Nov 22, 2025 | International Review of Victimology
This study examines survivors’ experiences with redress mechanisms for historical abuse by Catholic clergy in the Netherlands, showing that empathetic, participatory procedures fostered greater recognition and agency than rigid, adversarial processes.
Read moreDaadwerkelijk veranderen
Eva Mulder, Niké Wentholt, Naomi Ormskerk, Yara Bodegraven, Jake Smit & Nicole Immler
June 27, 2025 – revised may 2026 | WODC
In this commissioned research for WODC, researchers from DoJ worked together with other UvH-researchers to study government measures to recognize violent in youth care.
Read moreCatholic Clergy Abuse in the Netherlands: The Role of Social Relations in Redress Procedures
Naomi Ormskerk, Maarten Kunst & Nicole Immler
May 29, 2025 | Victims & Offenders
This article examines how redress procedures for clerical abuse in the Netherlands shape and are shaped by survivors’ social relationships, showing that relational and intergenerational dynamics are central to experiences of justice and healing.
Read moreHistorical abuse in Dutch Catholic institutions: institutional and non-institutional response procedures
Naomi Ormskerk, Maarten Kunst & Nicole Immler
April 9, 2024 | The International Journal of Restorative Justice
Naomi Ormskerk, Maarten Kunst and Nicole Immler discuss historical abuse in Dutch Catholic institutions, both institutional and non-institutional response procedures.
Read moreMeerstemmigheid in erkenning van onrecht
Nicole Immler, Obiozo Ukpabi, Naomi Ormskerk & Niké Wentholt interviewed by Dagmar Punter
Oct 27, 2023 | Tijdschrift Conflicthantering
Dagmar Punter interviewed the DoJ team on the Dialogics of Justice project, and multivoicedness in the recognition of injustice.
Read moreMEDIA
Opinion piece on how ruling of ‘statute of limitations’ is misplaced in the case of institutional suffering
05/04/2023 ‘Verjaring beschermt foute instituties’ – NRC
Naomi Ormskerk and Nicole Immler published an opinion piece in reaction to the ruling in a claim brought to the court by women who had suffered institutional abuse within a religious institution. Thousands of girls were forced to perform hard labor in Catholic ‘charitable institutions.’ The ruling of…
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Opinion piece on how both religious institutions and victims of institutional abuse have a role to play in restoration
11/01/2023 ‘Zowel de slachtoffers van misbruik als kerkelijke instituties hebben een rol in het herstel’ – Trouw
Naomi Ormskerk wrote an opinion piece on how forced labor and exploitation within Catholic institutions have caused significant suffering, for example, among girls in the institutions of ‘De Goede Herder’. In addressing this harm, both the victims and…
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EVENTS
15-17/4/2026 – Dialogics of Justice Final Conference
April 15th-17th 2026 Dialogics of Justice (NWO-VICI) – Final Conference About the conference The last decade has witnessed an increase in civil proceedings brought before Dutch district courts by people adversely affected by colonial violence, military missions, sexual abuse, and environmental harm. Does legal action against institutions such as the Dutch state, the military, the church, and…
Read more29-30/08/2024 – Victimology Summer School 2024
De Victimology Summer School 2024 (29 & 30 augustus) – georganiseerd door Slachtofferhulp Nedreland en acadademische en maatschappelijke partners – met als thema ‘Grootschalig slachtofferschap: De mensen achter de massa’, richtte zich op de complexiteiten van grootschalig slachtofferschap, zoals terrorisme, online criminaliteit, en casussen als de MH17-ramp, gaswinning in Groningen en de Toeslagenaffaire. Tijdens de…
Read more13/03/2024 – The Justice Visions Conference at the University of Ghent
How to bring scholars and practitioners from the Global South and North in the field of Transitional Justice in an exciting dialogue? The Justice Visions conference at the University of Ghent focused on questions on victim’s participation, mobilization and – importantly – resistance; such as the focus fom Luke Moffet’s presentation. Niké Wentholt, Naomi Ormskerk and…
Read more30/09/2022 – Expert meeting: celebrating the mid-point of our project
The Dialogics of Justice-team marked the mid-point in their project with an expert meeting. For this closed event, we invited partners from academia and practice, who we see as close collaborators in our research. We invited their feedback and discussion on our research design and first findings. This resulted in insightful reflections on what we…
Read more6&7/07/2021 – Conference ‘Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Transitional Justice’ hosted by Loughborough University (UK)
All team members of the Dialogics of Justice project have participated in the two-day virtual conference on Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Transitional Justice, hosted by the Loughborough University Centre for Research in Communication and Culture. The versatile program included panels on Transitional Justice and Politics of Recognition, Transitional Justice and Memory, and Transitional Justice, Human Rights,…
Read more30/04/2021 – Workshop with prof. Paul Gready on Transformative Justice
Internal workshop with human rights scholar Paul Gready on Transformative Justice.
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