News
“Multinational corporations have to pay their fair share of taxes or else we will have dug out all our copper and left a great hole in the ground for nothing”, stated Rev. Dr Suzanne Matale, from Zambia, during a workshop on just taxation and reparations held in Durban, South Africa, 16-20 March.
The workshop was part of the New International Financial and Economic Architecture joint initiative between the World Council of Churches (WCC), World Communion of Reformed Churches, Council for World Mission and the Lutheran World Federation.
Matale, who is a member of the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation, reiterated that the call for global rules to better tax multinational corporations and curb tax competition as well as for the establishment of a global tax body under the auspices of the United Nations is increasing worldwide.
In the face of gaping inequalities and a growing ecological crisis, taxation and reparations are important instruments for building a more equitable, responsible and ecologically sustainable global economy. In many countries, taxation finances schools, hospitals and other critical public infrastructure.
“The meeting explored common ground and built bridges between the movement for tax justice and the movement for reparations within and among our churches”, said Athena Peralta, programme executive for economic and ecological justice at the WCC.
“Both taxation and reparations are needed to tackle inequality; taxation can help raise the monies to fund reparations for social and ecological debts”, added Peralta.
The meeting brought together nearly 30 participants representing churches and civil society organisations. As a key output, the meeting outlined a global ecumenical campaign for just taxation and reparations that will be launched in succeeding months.
WCC-WCRC-CWM-LWF message on the occasion of the 3rd Financing for Development Forum
Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation
