This article examines the transformative journey of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), highlighting their evolution from unchecked power and impunity to a growing commitment to accountability, transparency, equity and decolonisation. Through the lens of three stories spanning four decades, the paper explores how INGOs have made progress in addressing systemic issues while acknowledging the challenges that remain.

The response from readers to my recent article on racism and discrimination at international airports has been overwhelming and deeply appreciated. This topic has clearly struck a chord, as evidenced by the over 88,000 impressions on LinkedIn and over 23,000 words of conversation it generated. This level of engagement underlines the importance of this topic to many of us.

Today, we look at the most commonly reported forms of discrimination and racism that my readers have faced and the potential solutions they have suggested to address them. The stories shared reveal two main types of discrimination: differential treatment based on race or nationality and excessive controls.