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Economic Justice

Rewrite the Rules, Make Taxes Work for Women

By Economic Justice, Philippines, Tax Justice

“Rewrite the Rules, Make Taxes Work for Women” is a theme song produced by the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) for its campaign on tax and gender justice. The song urges listeners to make taxes work for women and to “rewrite the rules that oppress us.” It is inspired by the calls of women that have intensified with the deepening inequalities across the globe amidst the Covid19 pandemic, economic recession, and, climate emergency.

Performed by Meggy Katigbak, the song was launched on 17 March 2021 during a CSW65 (sixty-fifth session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women) NGO Virtual Parallel Event called “A Tapestry of Women’s Voices Fighting the Multiple Crises.”

The song seeks to inspire solidarity and action. It is to be shared, sung, amplified. We would appreciate if you let us know how you’ve used the song or the music video.

 

APMDD’s demands for tax and fiscal justice:

  • Reduce Unfair Tax Burden on Women
  • Remove gender bias and discriminatory provisions in tax policies
  • Recognise, represent, reduce and redistribute unpaid care work
  • Increase allocation of tax revenues for public services.
  • Stop corporate tax abuse. Stop illicit financial flows. Establish a democratic, inclusive and transparent Global Tax Body under the auspices of the UN

Lyrics

CHORUS

Rewrite the rules
Make taxes work for women
Rewrite the rules
Make taxes work for women

VERSE I

Society, for centuries
condemned us-brutally fit us
into a mold they shaped for us
one that they always formed for us

Women have struggled, toiled, and fought
We have fought to be seen and won-
We have won the right of suffrage
We still have many fights to win

VERSE II

I grow the food and cook the meal
But have no place at your table
That’s the rule, you say, that’s the rule
But life should not be so cruel

Who set the rules, it’s you, you say
All the care, work, and taxes I pay
From what little that I own
But where does my money go?

VERSE III

Every day, everywhere, we pay
Taxes to eat, to heal, to die
You bury us in taxes
You rest on our belabored backs

Now we shout “tax the rich, not the poor!”
Rewrite the rules to make them right
For justice and equality
Rewrite the rules, we want them right!

BRIDGE

Rewrite the rules that oppress us
Make taxes work for women’s rights!

March 31, 2021
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A debt pandemic: Dynamics and implications of the debt crisis of 2020

By Debt Justice, Economic Justice

This briefing provides an overview of the dynamics and implications of the 2020 sovereign debt crisis. The prioritisation of creditor rights over the livelihoods of the population of developing countries is a well-known dead-end. Instead, the international community must recognise that the health and wellbeing of millions of people in developing countries is a precondition for debt sustainability.

The apparent financial resilience of developing countries in the aftermath of the Covid-19 shock is misleading. It is the result of a combination of cyclical factors in the form of sectoral adjustments and monetary policy responses triggered by the pandemic. Promoting a prompt return of countries to international financial markets without addressing the debt vulnerabilities exacerbated by the crisis will increase the external financial fragility of developing countries. In turn, it will require a growing transfer of resources from public borrowers to their external creditors over the coming decade. Until now, countries across the world have done so at great human and social costs to their populations. Continuing down this path will sound the death knell for the commitments under the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Beijing Declaration.

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March 23, 2021
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Bangladesh, Covid-19 and Debt

By Bangladesh, Debt Justice, Economic Justice

The Covid-19 crisis threatens to erode two-decades’ of progress on poverty reduction in Bangladesh. This difficult situation highlights the need for a more ambitious response to the crisis.

This blog has been written by ActionAid Bangladesh as part of a series of articles produced in conjunction with Eurodad on the implementation of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), to complement the report “Shadow report on the limitations of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative: Draining out the Titanic with a bucket?” published in October 2020.

Click to read the full report

March 16, 2021
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Grenada, Covid-19 and debt

By Debt Justice, Economic Justice, Grenada

While Covid-19 has had a limited impact on the health of Grenada’s population, the economic impact of the virus has been devastating.

This blog has been written by Jubilee Caribbean as part of a series of articles produced in conjunction with Eurodad on the implementation of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), to complement the report “Shadow report on the limitations of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative: Draining out the Titanic with a bucket?” published in October 2020.

Click to read the full blog

February 2, 2021
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Nepal, Covid-19 and debt

By Debt Justice, Economic Justice, Nepal

Nepal has been caught in a blizzard of economic and health challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Like other countries in the global south, it has received insufficient and inadequate support to tackle these challenges. The consequences of the lack of international solidarity are being felt by the most vulnerable people across the country.

This blog has been written by Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and Tax and Fiscal Justice Alliance Nepal as part of a series of articles produced in conjunction with Eurodad on the implementation of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), to complement the report “Shadow report on the limitations of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative: Draining out the Titanic with a bucket?” published in October 2020..

Click to read the full blog

January 12, 2021
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Zambia: The canary in the (debt crises) mine?

By Economic Justice, Events, Zambia

Zambia became the first country to default on its sovereign debt as a result of Covid-19. What are the implications of this development in the context of the recently announced G20 initiative for a “Common Framework for Debt Treatments Beyond the DSSI”? Is Zambia a herald of things to come to other developing countries? How is the crisis affecting the lives and livelihoods of the Zambian people? Join us for a discussion on these issues.

Moderation:

  • Iolanda Fresnillo (Eurodad).

Panelists:

  • Tim Jones (Jubilee Debt Campaign UK),
  • Muchimba S. Siamachoka (JCTR Zambia).

Respondents:

  • Jason Braganza (Afrodad), Representative from the office of the UN Independent Expert on Foreign Debt

Organised by: JCTR, Afrodad, Eurodad, Jubilee Debt Campaign UK, Erlassjahr.

November 26, 2020
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