Action Aid is currently engaged in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, to demand that multinational companies pay their fair share of tax for women’s rights. In a blog originally posted on Action Aid's website, International Tax Justice Campaigner Bridget Burrows explains how unfair tax systems are making it worse for women.
#taxpaysfor public services that meet women’s rights
This year the women of Heliopolis in Sao Paulo, Brazil were celebrating. Their streets have more lights, helping all residents, especially women, to return to their homes safely at night. Their victory was secured following intense campaigning for safer cities for women, especially through their highly visible night-time flashlight march demanding public lighting. Jaqueline, studying at college, explained: “If I attend college in two years I can get do what I like, which is working with children. I’m only afraid of the way I have to walk to college, because it is very dark. The fear has never stopped me going to class because I have a major goal. But I go all my way praying, asking God to protect me, because I am afraid of being robbed and raped.” Across the world, up to 70% of all women will experience violence in their lifetime. Poor women in developing countries are the most likely to be exposed to sexual violence on the streets. Women-friendly public services, like policing, public toilets and street-lighting can help keep women safer.
Across the world, up to 70% of all women will experience violence in their lifetime. Poor women in developing countries are the most likely to be exposed to sexual violence on the streets. Women-friendly public services, like policing, public toilets and street-lighting can help keep women safer.
Whether you want to: stop violence against women and girls; make cities safe for women; ensure more girls get a quality public education; or support women’s economic equality and reduce their unpaid care work – it needs adequate funds.
But where will the money come from? This question should concern all activists for women’s and girl’s rights. Too often governments point to empty budgets. But simple reforms in tax policy could provide many more public resources.
But where will the money come from? This question should concern all activists for women’s and girl’s rights. Too often governments point to empty budgets. But simple reforms in tax policy could provide many more public resources.
Unfair tax systems making it worse for women
Right now global and national economies and tax systems are not working for women and it is making the world more unequal.
A big tax contributor is being lost, with many big companies not paying their fair share. In 2013, ActionAid revealed that every year USD 138 billion are lost by poor countries giving corporate income tax breaks to wealthy multinational companies. How much is this? Enough to: school all 57 million children who currently don’t go to primary school, provide the agricultural investment (USD 42.7 billion) needed to achieve a world free from hunger meet international goals to reduce ill health more than twice over (USD 58.9 billion).
The IMF estimates developing countries lose a further estimated $200 billion a year to corporate tax avoidance.
Imagine how transformative this money could be in the lives of women and girls if spent wisely on public services.
More information on Action Aid website.
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