Human Rights Watch (HRW) is advocating for the United Nations (UN) Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) to prioritize international tax cooperation as a means of safeguarding human rights globally. In a statement, HRW emphasized that a fair taxation system is essential to protecting human rights and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
The FFD4, scheduled for June 30, aims to address financing reforms at a global level while tackling obstacles to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. HRW argues that the event is a unique opportunity to fix an international tax system that deprives numerous countries of vital tax revenue, thus hindering their ability to provide essential services like healthcare and education. The organization supports the establishment of an international convention designed to enhance coordination in international tax policy.
HRW specifically highlights the challenges faced by countries in the Global South, particularly in Africa, which experience significant financial deficits that inhibit their capacity to meet spending requirements for services such as education and healthcare. Tax avoidance, amplified by the rise of new labor models and the prevalence of tax havens, remains a substantial barrier to revenue generation.
Experts argue that global tax cooperation is vital for developing “human rights economies” and fulfilling international human rights obligations. HRW underscores that equitable global tax rules foster economic justice and enhance governments’ abilities to raise revenue needed to diminish inequalities. The FFD4’s discussions will focus on the FFD4 Outcome Document, which outlines commitments required to ensure countries have the necessary resources to protect human rights and finance sustainable development initiatives.