Advocacy Campaign #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights

Feb26

The Campaign #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights has just launched a 15 page CAMPAIGN TOOLKIT #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights – Global Days of Action – 8-24 March 2017. ¿QUÉ ESTÁ EN JUEGO? en español

I am going to highlight some points of entry as I can hear you say “I don’t have time to read 15 pages.” “I don’t know anything about tax.” “What is #TaxJustice?”

Page 8 7 Reasons Why We Need #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights Print out the sheet for reference. #TaxJustice is when taxes are fairly raised and fairly spent.

Tax is the key building blocks of society
Tax is the most sustainable source of Government revenue
Tax avoidance and tax breaks to big business costs developing countries

#TaxJustice helps girls get a better education
#TaxJustice reduces women’s and girls’ unpaid care burden.
#TaxJustice helps women get life saving health services.
#TaxJustice reduces violence against women and girls.
When multinational corporations and the very rich don’t pay their fair share of tax, it hurts women most.
#TaxJustice helps access to clean water that keeps women safer and builds their economic power.
#TaxJustice provides social protection for women.

Focus this topic in a community meeting, a justice prayer, a Lenten reflection, a capacity building session with girls and women. Use the Powerpoint – Getting the Conversation Started. How does #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights link with our Position Papers?

If you use social media there are many suggestion as to what to write – for

Facebook: go to page 12 of the toolkit … pictures that you can use are already prepared In English, French and Spanish Alternatively like me on Facebook and share my Facebook posting with your friends.
Twitter see pages 9, 10, 11 and 12 Pages 11 and 12 are prepared tweets My twitter handle is @winifreddoherty @gsijp retweet the messages.

If you are a little more adventurous get engaged in a national campaign – Write a letter – the template is prepared.

Lastly there are key dates to be aware of:

March 2 Oxfam International will launch a report on women’s economic empowernment
March 8th International Women’s Day
March 13 -24 is the Commission on the Status of Women – Theme: “Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.’
March 15 ActionAid International will release a new report on macroeconomics and violence against women
March 16 #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights forum in NY
March 22 World Water Day – Ensure the Human Right to Water.

Your GSIJP Team in New York will be fully engaged in CSW 61. We are delighted to welcome Sr. Jane Joan Kimathi from Kenya to join us.

Advocacy March 8th to 24th

Feb21

The Global Alliance for Tax Justice is a growing movement of civil society organisations and activists, including trade unions, united in campaigning for greater transparency, democratic oversight and redistribution of wealth in national and global tax systems.

The Global Alliance for Tax Justice comprise the five regional networks of Africa, Latin America, Asia-Australia, North America and Europe, which collectively represent hundreds of organisations. The website is in ENGLISH and SPANISH

This campaign is launching on March 8th – International Women’s Day and ending on March 24th when the Commission on the Status of Women ends its 61st session with an outcome document on ‘Women’s Economic Empowerment in the changing world of work.’ See ENGLISH and SPANISH A copy of the ‘draft agreed conclusion’ (English only) has been published. This will form the basis for negotiations among member states during the Commission. While there is mention of the establishment of universal social protection floors (page 4 (m) to ensure access to social protection for all there is no reference as to how these floors could be financed.

#TaxJustice is a call to our governments to stop the global scandal of corporate tax dodging, end illicit financial flows, and transform inequitable fiscal policies in order to fund and fulfill women’s rights. An excellent overview of the issue WHAT’S AT STAKE? ¿QUÉ ESTÁ EN JUEGO? is on one page ENGLISH and SPANISH Print out and bring these points to discussion groups.

“There is an urgent need to raise domestic revenue for the gender-sensitive public services, social protections, and infrastructure essential to women’s equal human development and equality. Emphasize that progressive tax policies are required to advance women’s rights and economic equality.”

“Hay una urgente necesidad de recaudar un ingreso doméstico para los servicios públicos que comprenda un enfoque de género, así como protección social e infraestructura esencial al desarrollo humano igualitario de las mujeres y a la igualdad. Enfatizar que se necesitan políticas fiscales progresivas para potenciar los derechos de las mujeres y la igualdad económica.”

ORGANIZING TEAM

The #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights Global Days of Action campaign is an initiative of the Global Alliance for Tax Justice, GATJ Tax & Gender and Global Action Working groups, and committed partners including Public Services International, the International Trade Union Confederation, Association for Women’s Rights in Development, Center for Economic and Social Rights, ActionAid, Christian Aid, Oxfam and Tax Justice Network.

Suggestions towards Good Shepherd Action:

a) During the days of 8-24 March, post on your Facebook and/or Twitter account what you are learning about #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights.

b) Alternatively, read what is posted on my Facebook page or the GSIJP Facebook page. LIKE and SHARE with your friends. Ask questions for clarification – answer questions – make suggestions.

c) Many suggestions are available on the website

d) Use the following hashtags: #IWD2017 / #taxjustice / #womensrights / #UNCSW17

Looking forward to seeing you on Facebook and Twitter.

Sugerencias para la acción de Buen Pastor:

a) Durante los días del 8 al 24 de marzo, publica en tu cuenta de Facebook y / o Twitter lo que estás aprendiendo sobre #TaxJustice (Justicia Fiscal) por los Derechos de la Mujer.

b) Alternativamente, lee lo que se publica en mi página de Facebook o en la página de Facebook de la OIJPBP. Haz clic en “ME GUSTA” y COMPARTE con tus amigos. Haz preguntas para aclaración – responde a preguntas – haz sugerencias.

c) Muchas sugerencias están disponibles en el sitio web.

d) Utilice las siguientes etiquetas hashtag: #IWD2017 / #taxjustice / #womensrights / #UNCSW17

Espero verles en Facebook y Twitter.

Reflecting on week one of the Commission for Social Development

Feb7

Friday, February 3 was the last day of week one of the Commission for Social Development. Overall, it was an interesting week which commenced on Monday afternoon with the opening of the Civil Society Forum. This forum continued on Tuesday morning with panel presentations followed with the continuation of Monday’s discussion in the afternoon. Both these session are webcast. Civil Society Forum – January 31st and Part 2 Afternoon session

The formal opening of the Commission took place on Wednesday February 1st – all sessions are webcast – Opening Session (Meeting 2) There were three statements presented – one from the President of the General Assembly (PGA) H.E. Peter Thompson (Fiji), the President of the Economic and Social Council H.E. Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava (Zimbabwe) and a statement on behalf of the Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Points noted from these statement are the following: The Commission is taking place at a time of global contradictions. While significant progress has been made in eradication extreme poverty, conflicts are reversing gains in social well-being and the gap between the rich and poor was growing (Sec General) The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the “masterplan for people planet and prosperity,” and is “firmly within our reach.” (PGA). “Today’s generation can be the one that eradicates poverty and turns the tide on inequality, exclusion and environmental degradation…” (President of ECOSOC) ANA HELENA CHACÓN ECHEVERRÍA, Vice-President of Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, said that despite all achievements, many countries had been left behind and growing global inequities challenged the universality of human rights. Poverty was a system and people living in poverty continued to be deprived, above all, of the capacity to claim their inalienable rights. Human dignity must be at the centre of any sustainable development process. Further the vice-president said respecting, promoting, and protecting rights required Governments to take positive action, which in turn, demanded national compliance with international obligations, particularly the 2030 Agenda.

In the afternoon at Meeting 3 the Vice-President of Costa Rica was a member of the panel during the interactive discussion on “Strategies for eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all.” She stressed the need to design public policies to meet the needs of people facing constant hunger, exclusion and poverty. No development can be sustained if millions of people are left behind. Poverty is a flagrant violation of human rights. Social policy must end the income gap and move towards peace, justice and inclusion. Costa Rica is poised to eliminate extreme poverty in less than 10 years. Costa Rica has developed social maps to track impoverished areas and understand the prevailing socioeconomic conditions. This coupled with a poverty index was used to measure poverty beyond income poverty and to take into account shortages in education, health care, water and housing.

Nigeria, both Government and civil society perspective were presented and Brazil noted that their nation had been removed from the FAO Hunger Map. The new challenge for Brazil is to sustain the gains.Through Bolsa Familia cash transfer programme 13.6 million low-income people received stipends on condition that they kept their children in school and followed a vaccination schedule. This year a National Strategy for Social and Productive inclusion was launched by the Government to build professional skills and generate income. The Happy Child Programme was launched in 2016 that gives regular assistance, including home visit to 530,000 children in 2017 and 1.5 million in 2018

Good Shepherd continue to promote implementation of social protection floors as a good strategy for eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all. There is growing interest in and concrete action towards implementation.
See http://bit.ly/2kttxSM which ‘showcases 16 experiences from 12 countries which have achieved universal or near-universal social protection coverage in the areas of health care, child allowances, maternity benefits, disability benefits and old-age pensions. Good Shepherd are in 5 of the Countries Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, South Africa, Thailand.

February 2nd Meeting 4 and Meeting 5 and February 3rd Meeting 6 and Meeting 7. These meeting focused on “Promoting Integrated Policies for Poverty Eradication: Youth Development in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (meeting 4) Meeting Coverage and “Leaving no one behind: poverty and disability” Meeting 6. Meeting Coverage

Side events are taking place throughout the Commission focusing on a myriad of topics related to the theme.