The staff Social Impact Award went to the Slavery & Law Project led by Michael Milo, Brianne McGonigle Leyh, Julie Fraser and Emmanuel van Dongen. The project is a local follow-up to national political and societal developments, following the apologies offered by the Rutte cabinet and by King Willem-Alexander to the communities concerned in Suriname.
More than two years ago, the team began strengthening attention to slavery within education. Their efforts encouraged a group of students to research the history of slavery, resulting in several theses. The team then organised a symposium and worked closely with NiNsee, including with Linda Nooitmeer (former chair of the National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy).
In 2025, the student research became part of the volume Sol Iustitiae Setting: The Utrecht Law School and its Relation to Slavery. The publication was presented to the President of Suriname, as well as to Linda Nooitmeer and representatives of Maroon and Indigenous communities. Because these communities are not often visible in programmes of this kind, the presentation was especially meaningful. The research itself was conducted in 2024; the publication and broader outputs followed in 2025.