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At the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS) and ICRICT's conference on “Tax Justice and Solidarity: Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Common Home,” CESR joined former country leaders, faith leaders, policymakers, and activists to call for a financial system that upholds human rights and economic justice.
Discussions at the event underscored the moral imperative of tax justice in addressing global inequality, debt, and climate crises. Sister Helen Alford, President of PASS, framed the ethical stakes clearly, stating: “Tax havens are not merely legal loopholes. They are mechanisms that facilitate inequality and the silent exploitation of the most vulnerable, leading countless innocent lives to experience a real hell on Earth."
Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa and a member of the UN High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency, and Integrity (FACTI Panel), emphasized the structural injustices embedded in the global financial system. Mbeki narrated how, in 2015, the panel determined that a significant portion of illicit financial flows (IFFs) from Africa stemmed from commercial activities, with 65% being tax-related and another 30% linked to organized criminal activity. While addressing these outflows required strong national measures, it was clear that domestic efforts alone would not suffice. Since much of this wealth was siphoned off to other jurisdictions, including tax havens, international cooperation was essential to combat IFFs effectively.
“We actively encouraged and were therefore very pleased with the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the resolution, which authorized negotiations towards a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. We’re also greatly encouraged when the G20 meeting in Brazil last year, as President Lula said, agreed on measures relating to ultra-high-net-worth individuals to ensure that these also contribute their fair share of taxes,” said Mbeki.
Following Mbeki’s remarks on the necessity of international cooperation to curb illicit financial flows, Irene Ovonji-Odida, ICRICT commissioner, reaffirmed the critical role of multilateral action, emphasizing: “International cooperation still matters. There are some intractable issues that can only be discussed at the UN.”
Aminata Touré, former Prime Minister of Senegal, underscored the long-standing exploitation of Africa’s wealth and the persistent harm caused by tax injustice. “Africa has been depleted for so long of so much of its wealth and resources, is still suffering from the ongoing tax injustice, and this is a fundamental moral issue,” she stated.
Gilad Isaacs, Executive Director of the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), reinforced the need to center tax justice in international financial discussions, particularly within platforms like the G20.
CESR’s Executive Director, María Ron Balsera, highlighted the role of human rights in economic debates, stating, "The standards and principles of human rights law give force, flesh, and specificity to fundamental values such as dignity, equity, fairness, solidarity, accountability, and justice, which resonate strongly in current debates around alternative visions of the economy. They are powerful tools to oppose the current attacks on democracy, multiculturalism, public goods, solidarity, and sustainability."
As CESR continues its work to break silos and build bridges—across movements, faith communities, and policy spaces—this high-level dialogue reinforced the need for tax justice as a means to secure human rights and economic fairness for all.