GATJ’s UN Tax Convention civil society and trade union workshop in New York.
In August, the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ) Secretariat and regional member networks participated in the start of the substantial negotiations for a UN Tax Convention. Read along for more news on global and regional tax justice.
GATJ
The Start of the UN Tax Convention Negotiations
From August 4 – 15, the first two substantial negotiating sessions took place for a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN Tax Convention) at the UN in New York. From now until mid-2027, negotiations will continue to develop a Framework Convention and two early protocols. These negotiations are historic: they are the first time that all UN Member States can come together on an equal footing to negotiate the global tax rules. The negotiations cover key tax justice issues including a fair allocation of taxing rights, the effective taxation of multinationals and the rich, and have the mandate to develop an international tax system for sustainable development. This process has wide-ranging impacts from gender equality to financing for development.
Throughout the negotiations, GATJ, alongside members and allies, delivered interventions, produced a chronicle, and held events attended by negotiators, civil society, and other stakeholders. As the co-coordinator of the UN Tax Convention Working Group, GATJ convened over 50 civil society and trade union experts coming from around the world who work on issues of tax, climate, human rights, health, youth, development, and gender. Looking forward to the next session of negotiations which take place November 10 – 21 in Nairobi, GATJ continues to unify and build a diverse civil society movement advocating for a robust and ambitious Framework Convention.
Read more on GATJ’s reaction to the start of the negotiations here and watch the history of the Global Tax Body above to learn more.
Africa’s Debt Crisis: A Reparations and Reparative Justice Framework Analysis
GATJ Executive Coordinator Dr. Dereje Alemayehu and GATJ Coordinating Committee Member Jane Nalunga of SEATINI at the Pan-African Rally for Debt Cancellation and Trade Justice.
The 5th African Conference on Debt and Development, AfCoDDV, was held in Accra, Ghana from August 27 – 29. GATJ Executive Coordinator, Dr. Dereje Alemayehu, spoke at AfCoDDV on the importance of international tax reform for reparative justice. Reforming the unjust global financial architecture, including through a UN Tax Convention, is urgently needed to stop the bleeding of resources from the Global South. Following the conference, GATJ took part in the Pan-African Rally for Debt Cancellation and Trade Justice. These calls by civil society for structural reform continue to grow following the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development.
A Feminist Approach to Tax Justice: Reclaiming Public Resources for Gender and Economic Justice
African Feminist Macroeconomic Academy organisers and attendees.
The 2025 African Feminist Macroeconomic Academy took place from August 18 – 22 under the theme “A Feminist Approach to Tax Justice: Reclaiming Public Resources for Gender and Economic Justice.” Convened by the African Women’s Development and Communication Network in partnership with Tax Justice Network Africa, NAWI Collective, Stop the Bleeding campaign, and the Global Alliance for Tax Justice, the academy brought together African feminists to interrogate the gendered impact of tax systems and discuss areas to shape national, regional, and global tax justice agendas.
Read more takeaways from the academy here.
GATJ’s Members
Africa
Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) has continued to call for a restructuring of the global financial system to work for Africa and the broader Global South. During the Second Africa Climate Summit from September 8-10, TJNA hosted side-events on the intersection of climate and tax justice.
Asia
Tax and Fiscal Justice Asia (TAFJA) members attended the UN Tax Convention negotiations. TAFJA Co-Coordinator Jeannie Manipon and GATJ Executive Coordinator Dr. Dereje Alemayehu wrote upon five steps to achieve an ambitious UN Tax Convention.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Red de Justicia Fiscal de América Latina y el Caribe (RJFALC) members attended the UN Tax Convention negotiations and shared a blog in Spanish and English on the start of the global agreement. In July, RJFALC attended the 4th Financing for Development Conference and shared takeaways.
North America
The Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition submitted comments to the UN Tax Committee on the need for Country-by-Country Reporting.
Canadians for Tax Fairness (C4TF) published a report: The rise and rise of tax havens: How the ultra-rich and mega-corporations hide wealth and cost us billions.
Europe
Tax Justice Europe (TJ-E) members participated and gave interventions in the UN Tax Convention negotiations, advocating for fair and effective global tax rules. Tove Maria Ryding, Eurodad Tax Justice Policy and Advocacy Manager and Co-Coordinator of Tax Justice Europe, shared an analysis of the negotiations here.