MANILA, June 29, 2015 – Asian movements are joining the global call for governments to demand the establishment of a global tax body at the ongoing negotiations in the UN Financing for Development process, which will culminate in a conference in Ethiopia next month.
“Civil society groups in Asia are criticizing the United States and European Union for opposing a global tax body that would be more democratic than the OECD and G20, which rich countries dominate,” said Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD).
“Setting up a tax body is a crucial first step towards a better global financial system which works to uplift the majority and not further enrich the wealthy. It can level the playing field against tax evaders and provide more funds for developing countries,” she added.
The outcome of the third Financing for Development conference, which will be held on July 13-16 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will also impact the Sustainable Development Goals, which are also currently being negotiated.
“The adoption of post-2015 development goals will mean nothing if there is no financing to ensure its implementation,” she added.
APMDD is one of more than a thousand organizations which are part of the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ).
“Currently, the world’s poorest countries are excluded from decision making on global tax standards, and international systems often don’t take into account their realities and interests. This means lower tax income and thereby less available financing for development in these countries,” according to a list of ten reasons in favor of a tax body released by several GATJ members.
The Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (formerly Jubilee South–Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development) is a regional alliance of peoples’ movements and organizations, coalitions, and nongovernmental organizations.