Naomi Ormskerk

 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.

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Daadwerkelijk 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.

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Meerstemmigheid 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.

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MEDIA

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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