Members of GATJ’s Secretariat and regional networks at the organisational session of the UN Tax Convention in New York.
In January and February, members of the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ) have continued the fight for tax systems that are equitable and effective. Read along for more global and regional updates from the start of 2025.
Global
UN Tax Convention Negotiations
GATJ’s regional members and Secretariat gathered in New York to attend the organisational session for the negotiations for the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN Tax Convention). The process is set to deliver three legally binding agreements by mid-2027: a Framework Convention and two early protocols. The negotiations took place at the UN Headquarters in New York and ran from the 3rd to the 6th of February. In a press release, GATJ applauded the outcome of the organisational session.
GATJ co-produced the FfD Chronicle to inform negotiators of key civil society positions. Read the Chronicle from day one and in reaction to the U.S. walking out of the negotiations here.
FfD4 PrepCom Meeting
As Co-Coordinators of the Tax Justice Workstream of the the Civil Society Financing for Development (CS FfD) Mechanism, GATJ participated in the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee Session for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). The session took place from the 10th to the 14th of February 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York. Read more about the interventions of the CS FfD Mechanism here.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Red de Justicia Fiscal de América Latina y el Caribe (RJFALC) participated in the UN Tax Convention negotiations. The negotiations were attended by Luis Moreno, director of International Taxation at Latindadd, Chair of the Coordinating Committee of GATJ, and member of RJFLAC, who highlighted that the approval of the two protocols constitutes “crucial achievements to establish a more equitable international tax system.” RJFALC also shared this post diving into the opportunities and challenges of a UN Tax Convention for the Global South.
Africa
Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) hosted members of the High-Level Panel on illicit financial flows from Africa for an exclusive Fireside Chat on Monday, February 24, 2025. This significant discussion commemorated 10 years since the release of the High-Level Panel report. TJNA participated at the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) 2025, which was held from 3 to 6 February 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. The AMI2025 brought together representatives of NGOs and Civil society, activists, mining-affected communities, faith-based organisations, the private sector, and government representatives to keep promoting a people-centered and environmentally sustainable approach to the clean energy transition.
TJNA, under the umbrella of the CS FfD Mechanism also participated in the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee Session for the FfD4.
Asia
Tax and Fiscal Justice Asia (TAFJA) and the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) commended the good start to the February intergovernmental negotiations to write the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN Tax Convention).
North America
Canadians for Tax Fairness (C4TF) has been pushing back against their government abandoning the shrinking of the capital gains loophole and looking back at their Prime Minister’s neoliberal legacy in the wake of his resignation.
The Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition shared a new wave of layoffs at the IRS threatens to undo recent progress at America’s tax agency, which began a hiring wave in 2022 after losing nearly half of its personnel specializing in complex tax investigations and enforcement cases over the preceding decade. Ian Gary, FACT executive director, said in a statement:
“Tax evasion is a crime. Americans need to know that our tax laws will be enforced fairly for rich and poor alike. Rather than creating efficiency, these drastic cuts will invite more tax evasion and rob the U.S. Treasury of vital revenues needed for social investments. Congress should ensure that lawfully appropriated investments in the IRS are protected.”
Europe
Tax Justice Europe (TJ-E) member, the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) held the Eurodad Conference 2025. GATJ’s Secretariat and members were in attendance, participating in discussions on tax justice.
That’s all for now!
Looking to learn more about GATJ and our regional members? Find the contact for each region here.