Webinar: Gender-based violence, agency, and African theologies

Gender-based violence and violence have been foci in feminism since the 1970, in the Global North and South. DIAPP/CODE, the research group in the study of diaconia and community development at VID Specialized University, highlights the International Woman’s Day by hosting a digital seminar on the topic of gender-based violence, agency, and African theologies violence.

Elorm Stiles-Ocran, new PhD at VID, and Tsion Alemayehu, PhD candidate at VID are experts on gender-based violence and women’s agency in Africa.

We have asked them to present their research according to three questions:

• According to your research, what are the theologies that drive and legitimate gender-based violence?
   
• According to your research, what are the theological resources which combat gender-based violence and women’s agency in African contexts?
   
• What insights can be transferred from Africa to other contexts, both in the Global North and South? What insights can be transferred from Africa to other contexts, both in the Global North and South?
  
  Professor Carlene Van Der Walt, director of the Ujamaa Centre in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, will respond to the two VID researchers and give an overview of the field. Our aim with the seminar is to facilitate a dialogue between theological reflection in the Global North and South on the topic of gender-based violence.
  
  The list of speakers may be extended according to response.
  
  Tsion Alemayehu Kenea is an Ethiopian PhD candidate at VID Specialized University. Her research explores gender-based violence in Ethiopia through the lens of contextual and African women’s theology. With a particular focus on the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. Her work seeks to contribute to faith-based responses that promote gender equality/justice within church and society.
  
  Elorm Ama Stiles-Ocran is an African woman theologian, researcher, and activist from Ghana, residing in Oslo. She is married with 3 children. She has a bachelor’s degree in the Study of Religions and Political Science from the University of Ghana. She also has a master’s degree in Diakonia and Christian Social Practice, and a doctoral degree in international diakonia both from VID Specialized University. Her research interests are intimate partner violence against women, interdisciplinary research, intersectionality, the bible and Christian faith, and women's agency."
  
  Prof. Charlene van der Walt is the Global Coordinator for Theological Education for Act Church of Sweden and an Honorary Associate Professor in Gender and Religion at the School of Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Prof. Van der Walt also remains associated with the changemaking work of the Ujamaa Center for Biblical and Theological Community Development and Research. Charlene's primary research interests include Queer Theory/Theology, Queer Biblical Hermeneutics, LGBTIQA+ activism and changemaking, Contextual Bible Study, and emerging- experimental pedagogies in the study of Religion and Theology.
  
  Charlene can be contacted at charlene.vanderwalt@svenskakyrkan.se and vanderwaltc@ukzn.ac.za

Contact person

Gyrid Gunnes