The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) Task Force on Illicit Financial Flows, Poverty and Human Rights will hold its first high level multi-stakeholder consultation meeting in Latin America Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 14 June 2012. The aim of the consultation is to obtain a regional perspective on issues relating to the impact of tax abuses and transnational crimes on poverty and the realisation of economic and social rights in Latin America.
The consultation will seek perspectives from a wide range of stakeholders, including tax, mining and criminal lawyers, the Brazilian Revenue Authority, and regional non-governmental organisations. During the meeting, presentations will be made by participant stakeholders and will be followed by roundtable discussions. The four key areas of focus are:
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mineral taxation policies, tax planning and revenues;
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tax abuses, transfer pricing and bank secrecy;
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transnational crimes, tax evasion and corporate criminal responsibility in Latin America; and the
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impact of tax abuses and poor tax collection on poverty and human rights.
Further to the consultation meeting in Sao Paulo, the IBAHRI Task Force will hold a range of side meetings and consultations with stakeholders across Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo.
The IBAHRI Task Force, comprised of leading academics, tax experts, authorities on development and human rights, and lawyers, will analyse, through regional consultations and conversations across the globe, the bearing illicit financial flows – specifically the proceeds of corporate tax evasion – have on poverty and subsequently the enforcement of economic, social, and cultural rights. At the conclusion of the consultations an innovative report will be written and published by the IBAHRI Task Force. The findings from the regional consultations will be central to the exploration of tax evasion as a matter of human rights.
To register for the consultation meeting in Sao Paulo, please send an email to louise.ball@int-bar.org before 1700, 13 June 2012. The meeting will be held on 14 June 2012, at 0900-1715, at the Renaissance Hotel, Sao Paulo, Brazil alongside the 15th Transnational Crime Conference, organised by the IBA Criminal Law Section and IBA Latin American Regional Forum.
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Editor’s notes
The IBAHRI Task Force was convened to analyse the links between illicit financial flows, – particularly the proceeds of tax evasion – poverty and human rights. Preliminary research indicated that while links have been established between poverty and human rights, and between tax evasion and poverty, comparatively little time has been spent considering tax evasion as a matter of human rights.
The IBAHRI Task Force was launched on 30 March 2012, in London, United Kingdom. The Task Force will meet in plenary at the International Bar Association’s Annual Conference in Dublin, September 2012.
Relevant links:
Click here to visit the IBAHRI Task Force website, which includes Task Force members’ biographies, or paste the following hyperlink into your browser: www.ibanet.org/Human_Rights_Institute/TaskForce_IllicitFinancialFlows_Poverty_HumanRights.aspx
Click here to download the IBAHRI Resolution on poverty and human rights, or paste the following hyperlink into your browser: www.ibanet.org/Document/Default.aspx?DocumentUid=5595AD94-019C-4A6C-BB88-B8C6B7FDB575
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For further information please contact:
Romana St. Matthew - Daniel
Press Office