Amnesty International’s Riva Jalipa Urges African Nations to Assert Fiscal Freedom, Champions UN Tax Convention
SEVILLE, SPAIN – Amnesty International’s Fiscal Justice Lead, Riva Jalipa, delivered a powerful call to action for African nations to resist debt bondage and pursue economic sovereignty, speaking at the recent Financing for Advancement conference in Seville. Jalipa highlighted the November 2023 move by the Africa Group at the UN to table a resolution initiating negotiations for a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UNTC) as a pivotal moment in reclaiming economic control.
Jalipa argued that the entities offering loans and economic solutions are ofen those responsible for creating the unsustainable debt burdens faced by many African countries. “We must have our own fiscal freedom and solutions,” she stated, emphasizing the need for self-determination in economic policy.
The conference saw critically important corporate presence advocating for private sector-led solutions to public challenges, a dynamic Jalipa cautioned against. “We cannot let them determine our futures for us,” she warned.
Drawing on a quote from Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa - “In every democracy that’s been eroded, it started with impunity. It started with the normalization of lies” – Jalipa stressed the importance of actively challenging injustice. “Every day we let an injustice happen, we create a new normal,” she explained, framing Amnesty International’s participation in the Seville conference as a crucial effort to “hold the line” and push for the democratization of global economic governance to adequately fund the Enduring Development Goals.
Jalipa acknowledged the historical precedent of triumphant rights movements, citing the fights against slavery, for voting rights, and to end racist segregation, as inspiration for the current push for global economic sovereignty. She urged individuals to engage in advocacy through various means - protests, boycotts, litigation, and other forms of activism – emphasizing that “Everyone has a role to play.”
Amnesty International is actively promoting awareness of the link between taxation and human rights, advocating for tax systems that respect essential rights.
