On July 14th, 2020 we held the event: "Wave of litigation for tax justice: Opportunities for Latin America". The goal was to discuss, based on recent cases against the tax system in Colombia and Brazil, how litigation can be a tool that civil society organizations in the region use to advance tax justice. These cases illustrate what human rights can bring to tax discussions, and the ways in which courts of law can intervene in tax matters.
In a letter signed on May 19, 2020, the Working Group on the Protocol of San Salvador highlighted the relevance of the Initiative for human rights principles and guidelines in fiscal policy.
On May 27, 2020, a virtual dialogue was held to receive feedback on the principles and guidelines draft.
On May 2020 the Initiative for Human Rights principles in Fiscal Policy organized an online event to discuss “Fiscal responses to a Global Crisis”. In the event, participants discussed fiscal challenges of the current global context, and possible short and mid term responses to secure access to human rights.
A regional civil society Initiative for Human Rights in Fiscal Policy in Latin America calls on States to undertake broad fiscal redistribution, and on multilateral institutions to free up fiscal space, in order to avoid dire human rights consequences.
Bogotá/New York/Buenos Aires/Mexico/Brasilia, April 23¾If countries in Latin America and the Caribbean do not undertake an unprecedented redistributive effort to respond to COVID-19, they may face a profound human rights crisis, says the Initiative for Human Rights Principles in Fiscal Policy (comprised of six human rights organizations and the regional fiscal justice network).
Fiscal policy is a key tool to strengthen healthcare systems and tackle COVID-19, after years of deterioration due to austerity measures. Fiscal policy is also essential to provide economic and social safeguards to make social distancing and quarantine measures viable and humane, and to prevent a deep economic recession.
