When societies experience war, occupation or political upheaval, people do not only carry physical scars — they carry memories, interpretations and moral questions that do not align neatly with one another. In these moments, talking about the past becomes both essential and incredibly difficult.

Integrity issues rarely stem from bad intentions. They arise from temptations; bypassing rules because its easier and because its not clear what the rule is therefore. They arise from mistakes; well-intended short cuts to deliver faster or seemingly better results. And in some cases they arise from (external) pressures; time constraints and powerful stakeholders that demand specific solutions.

Mission driven organisations almost always invest a lot of time, energy and money in making sure they are ‘safe’ on integrity. Stakeholders such as the local councils, boards and donors demand it.

Teams in NGOs and government often carry significant responsibilities. In my experience, they frequently feel that the space to speak openly about difficult decisions is unintentionally shrinking.