“I wanted to reflect on dignity as the absolute moral value that underpins the human quest for liberty in all its forms.”

Yelyzaveta Monastyrova, winner of the 2024 Subedi Essay Prize

At the Wilberforce Institute’s recent Modern Slavery Conference, Yelyzaveta Monastyrova was revealed as the 2024 Subedi Essay Prize for an essay titled: ‘Human Dignity within the Anti-Trafficking Regime: From Consensus to Complicity’. 

The Subedi Essay Prize is an annual competition, run by the University of Hull’s Wilberforce Institute and supported by Hull alumnus, Professor Surya Subedi. Professor Subedi studied for an LLM at the University of Hull from 1986 to 1988, obtaining the degree with distinction and a prize for best student of the year. He is now Professor of International Law at the University of Leeds, and a visiting faculty member on the international human rights law programme at the University of Oxford since 2016.

Yelyzaveta the prize winner said: 

“I wanted to reflect on dignity as the absolute moral value that underpins the human quest for liberty in all its forms. However, dignity is too often misappropriated by governance regimes that subsist on structural exploitation. This includes the legal and policy frameworks aimed at counteracting human trafficking, which become a tool for reproducing unfreedom”.

Dr Alicia Heys of the Wilberforce Institute said on behalf of the judging panel: 

“This year’s winning essay ‘Human Dignity within the Anti-Trafficking Regime: From Consensus to Complicity’ offers fantastic critical analysis and profound insight. This essay adeptly navigates the complexities of agency, control, and structural injustices, offering fresh perspectives and provoking essential debates. A remarkable exploration that enriches our understanding of a pressing global issue”.

Read the winning essay here >>

The 2025 Subedi Essay Prize is now open. This annual prize is for the best original essay in English on the abolition of modern forms of slavery or the protection of human dignity anywhere in the world. The winner will receive £500 in recognition of their success.

Details of how to submit an essay and the terms and conditions can be found using the link below. 

Find out more about the Subedi Essay Prize >>