Selected URDR Research outputs
    • The URDR builds collaborative theory from below to offer an evidence base for existing work. It acts as a bridge between academics and practitioners to identify synergies and innovations from communities of practice. Below are some selected research outputs from the URDR. This is not a comprehensive list.

"Religion and the secular both need contemporary hermeneutical review…it is important that from within their own traditions, people work on the relationship between religion, the secular and human rights to see what might be possible to affirm in common." -  Paul Weller

Key Academic Publications

Palm, S. 2021. Webs of Harm: Online Child Sexual Abuse and Theologies of the Digital, Cursor_ Zeitschrift für explorative Theologie, April 2021.
Palm, S. 2021. “One Body, Many Voices: Theological perspectives on inclusion and diversity from the global South” in N, Kurlberg and M, Daenhardt (eds). Theologies and Practices of Inclusion. London, SCM Press.
Palm, S & Gaum, L. 2021. "Engaging Human Sexuality: Creating safe spaces for LGBTIQ+ and straight believers in South Africa". Theologia in Loco 3, 2:162-182.
Palm, S. 2021. “Stories of Hope? Sustaining Hope in COVID-19 Times of Despair and Anxiety.” In A Time like No Other: Covid-19 in women’s voices. (eds) N. Hadebe, D Gennrich, S. Rakoczy & N. Tom.
Le Roux, E. 2021. “Jesus is a survivor: sexual violence and stigma within faith communities.” In When did we see you naked? Jesus as a victim of sexual abuse. (eds) J.R. Reaves, D. Tombs & R. Figueroa. UK: SCM Press.
Bowers Du Toit, N, Forster, D, Le Roux, E & Weber, S. 2021. Born Free? South African Young Adults, Inequality, and Reconciliation in Stellenbosch. International Bulletin of Mission Research, July 2021.
Palm. S. 2020. “Seen but not heard? Engaging the mechanisms of faith to end violence against children” In Childhood Vulnerabilities in South Africa (eds) C Jones & J Grobbelaar. Sun Press: South Africa.
Du Toit, L. & Le Roux, E. 2020. A feminist reflection on male victims of conflict-related sexual violence. European Journal of Women’s Studies, 1-14.
Le Roux, E. 2020. “Recognising and responding to complex dilemmas: child marriage in South Africa.” In Childhood Vulnerabilities in South Africa (eds) C Jones & J Grobbelaar. Sun Press. South Africa.
Le Roux, E. et al. 2020. Engaging with faith groups to prevent VAWG in conflict-affected communities: results from two community surveys in the DRC. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 20(27).
Palm, S. 2020. “Sustaining Feminist Hope in COVID-19 times of despair and anxiety African Journal of Gender & Religion in Africa 26:70-90.
Le Roux, E. & Bartelink, B.W. 2020. What’s in a name? Identifying the harm in ‘harmful traditional practices’. In Kraft, K. & Wilkinson, O.J. (ed.s) International Development and Local Faith Actors: Ideological and Cultural Encounters. Oxon: Routledge.
Le Roux, E. & Olivier, J. 2020. "Cascading theology: Experiences of the implementation of a Training-of-the-Trainers model for faith-based gender-based violence intervention". In Kraft, K. & Wilkinson, O.J. (ed.s) International Development and Local Faith Actors: Ideological and Cultural Encounters. Oxon: Routledge.
Le Roux, E. & Cadavid Valencia, L. 2020. Partnering with local faith communities: Learning from the response to internal displacement and sexual violence in Colombia. In Kraft, K. & Wilkinson, O.J. (ed.s) International Development and Local Faith Actors: Ideological and Cultural Encounters. Oxon: Routledge.
Palm, S. 2019. “A Time to Confess? An ecclesiology of vulnerability in the light of #metoo” Luce Verbi 53, 4. 1-8
Le Roux, E. & Cadavid Valencia, L. 2019. "There’s no-one you can trust to talk to here": Churches and internally displaced survivors of sexual violence in Medellín, Colombia. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies ,75(4): a5491.
Palm, S. 2019. “A long walk to reproductive freedom: Re-conceiving theologies of abortion in South Africa” in Classens, J and Kotze, M (eds). Reconceiving Reproductive Health: Theological and Ethical Reflections. South Africa: AOSIS Online.
Le Roux, E. 2019. Can religious women choose? Holding the tension between complicity and agency". African Journal of Gender and Religion, 25(1): 1-19.
Palm, S. 2019. “Building Bridges or Walls? Human Rights & Religious Freedom: A South African history”. In Gunther,G. & Forster, D. (eds)Freedom of Religion at Stake: Competing claims among faith traditions, States and Persons . Wipf&Stock.
Palm, S. 2019. “Re-imagining Sin: Nurturing Youth Spiritualities for Social Justice”. In Claassens, L.J, Van der Walt, C. & Olojede, F. (eds)Teaching for Change: Essays on Pedagogy, Gender, Health & Theology in Africa. (eds.) Stellenbosch: SUNMedia
Le Roux, E. 2019. "Conflict in conflict: Mobilising against violence against women and girls in local faith communities in areas affected by armed conflict". In Claassens, L.J, Van der Walt, C. & Olojede, F. (ed.s). Teaching for change: Essays on Pedagogy, Gender and Theology in Africa. Stellenbosch: SUNMedia.
Palm, S. & Le Roux, E. 2018. Households of Freedom? Faith’s Role in Challenging Gendered Geographies of Violence in Our Cities. In De Beer, S (ed.). Just Faith: Glocal Responses to Planetary Urbanisation (HTS Religion & Society Series Volume 3), pp. 135-164, AOSIS, Cape Town.
Le Roux, E., Hankela, E. & McDonald, Z., 2018, ‘Social justice required: Youth at the margins, churches and social cohesion in South Africa’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 74(3).
Currier, J.M., Rojas-Flores, L., McCormick, W.H., Koo, J.H., Cadavid, L., Pineda, F.A., Le Roux, E., & Givens, T. 2018. Spiritual struggles and ministry-related quality of life among faith leaders in Colombia. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.
Le Roux, E. 2018. What is campus rape culture? IFES Word & World, Issue 5.
Le Roux. E. 2018. Editor’s note. IFES Word & World, Issue 5: Violence against women in the university.
Palm, S. 2018. "Religion, Gender Norms and Campus Rape Culture: Building Resistance from Below".Politeia 37 (2), Vol 4(1), 321–346.
Palm, S. 2018. "Always Reforming? Nurturing a Church for Human Rights in South Africa".Stellenbosch Theological Journal, Vol 4, No 1, 321–346.
Le Roux, E. 2017. "Faith-based HIV response in post-soviet Eastern Europe: the case of Channels of Hope in Russia, Romania and Armenia". Development in Practice, August 2017.
Le Roux, E. & Loots, L. 2017. The unhealthy divide: how secular-faith binary potentially limits GBV prevention and response. Development in Practice, August 2017.
Le Roux, E. & Sandoua, Y. 2017. Leadership responses during armed conflict. In Priest R. (ed.) Patterns in African Christian Leadership: Insights from 8000 Africans.
Palm, S. 2016. “Re imagining the human? Disrupting injustice? Towards a liberating hermeneutic for human rights in South Africa today.” Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa. Vol 22(1)84-104.
Le Roux, E. & Bowers-Du Toit, N. 2017. "Men and women in partnership: mobilising faith communities to address gender-based violenceDiakonia, 1/2017.
Le Roux, E. Kramm, N., Scott, N., Sandilands, M., Loots, L., Olivier, J., Arango, D.J., & O’Sullivan, V. 2016. "Getting dirty: Working with faith leaders to prevent and respond to gender based violence." The Review of Faith & International Affairs, 14(3): 22-35.
Le Roux, E. 2015. “Telling stories”: talking about VAW within the church and seminary.  In Mouton, E., Kapuma, G., Hansen, L., & Togom, T. (ed.s).  Living with Dignity: African Perspectives on Gender Equality.  Stellenbosch: SUNPRESS.
Palm, S. 2014. ”Liberating Human Rights? Insights from Abdullahi An-Na’im for present day South Africa.” Acta Academia 46(4):93-116.
Palm, S. & Le Bruyns, C. 2013. “Transforming Hope? A Theological-Ethical Vision, Virtue and Practice for the Common Good”. Journal of Theology for Southern Africa. 146:104-121.
Le Roux, E. 2012. Why sexual violence? The social reality of an absent church. In Hendriks, H.J., Mouton, E., Hansen, L., & Le Roux, E. (ed.s) Men in the pulpit, women in the pews? Addressing gender inequality in Africa.  Stellenbosch: SUNPRESS.
Le Roux, E. 2010. Pornography: Human right or human rights violation?  HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 66(2), Art. #847, 8 pages.
Erasmus, J.C. & Le Roux, E. 2010. Exploring anomalies in the values and sexual behavior of Anglican youth.  Commonwealth Youth and Development, 8(2).
Swart, I. 2006. The churches and the development debate: Perspectives on a fourth generation approach. Stellenbosch: Sun Press.

Selected Policy and Learning Briefs

Key Technical Reports

Selected Media Engagements