Financial Transparency Coalition

Task Force member Global Financial Integrity has teamed up with several prominent American NGOs to call on the United States Government to take the lead on addressing transparency in the international financial system at this week’s G20 Summit in Seoul.

Here’s GFI’s full statement about the coalition:

United States: Promote Global Financial Transparency at G20 Summit

Greater Accountability Would Improve Development and Rights, Alleviate Poverty

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States should press for greater transparency and accountability in the global financial system at the G20 Summit meeting in Seoul, a coalition of civil society organizations said today. The G20 Advocacy Coalition brings together varied organizations – that share the view  that increased transparency is essential to promoting economic development, alleviating poverty and realizing enjoyment of economic and social rights.

Every year developing countries lose approximately $1 trillion in illicit financial flows—the proceeds of crime, corruption and tax evasion. That is roughly ten times the amount of official development assistance forthe developing world.

“This is a crucial time for the global economy,” said Tom Cardamone, managing director of Global Financial Integrity, a coalition member.  “Our goal is to raise awareness of how illicit financial flows undermine economic development efforts in poor countries and contribute to corruption, crime and poverty. We’re pressing for changes that will curtail these harmful outflows.”

The coalition of civil society organizations represents a broad array of issues and interests, including human rights, poverty alleviation, economic development, business policy and international security. It includes Oxfam America, Human Rights Watch, EarthRights International, ONE, Tax Justice Network USA, New Rules for Global Finance, and the Center for International Policy.

In a letter circulated to key figures on the U.S. G20 delegation,  the Coalition states: “The G20 has claimed, ‘The era of bank secrecy is over.’ It is now time for the United States to step forward and make that claim a reality.”

The group’s main recommendations are:

• Recognize the links between illicit outflows of capital from developing countries, absorption of those resources by tax havens and financial institutions in international financial centers, and the adverse impact those flows have on alleviating poverty, economic development, and meeting economic and social rights obligations;
• Call on the Financial Action Task Force to amend its recommendations 33, 34, and VIII to make the beneficial ownership of all companies, trusts, foundations and charities  a matter of public record; and
• Recommend that the International Accounting Standards Board adopt a standard requiring  all multinational corporations to report their income and taxes paid on a country-by-country basis.

“These steps would inject much-needed transparency into the global financial system and help ensure that governments are accountable to their people and that public funds are invested to help them realize their rights,” said Arvind Ganesan, director of business and human rights at Human Rights Watch.

*For a complete list of G20 Advocacy Coalition organizations:
http://www.ciponline.org/pressroom/articles/101510_G20_Advocacy_Coalition_Letter.html

You can promote financial transparency, yourself, by signing the G20 Transparency petition, which calls on the G20 to tackle the same 3 recommendations.