Taking Action to Combat Inequalities: The Role of Progressive Taxation and Social Protection Systems

July 1, 2025 | 2:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. (CEST)

FIBES, Room 20; FIBES Conference Center, Seville, Spain

In-person, one-and-a-half-hour panel with three keynote interventions by government representatives, followed by an interactive dialogue and a round of comments from the audience

Organized by Oxfam International and co-sponsored by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance, the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Cooperation Taxation (ICRICT), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The international community is grappling with numerous challenges, including the need to accelerate decarbonization and combat climate change, the urge for highly indebted countries to expand fiscal space for investment in poverty eradication and social services, and the importance of getting back on track towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. One issue stands out as a major barrier to tackling all these global challenges, and that impacts every society: inequality.

Starting in Sevilla at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, we have a unique opportunity to unite forces and reduce inequalities, reaffirm multilateralism, and reorient our economies away from climate breakdown. The 4th Conference will mark a historic moment for the future of multilateralism and global cooperation. Sevilla will be a major global opportunity in 2025 for governments from both North and South to demonstrate their commitment to building more fair and equitable societies.

Building on the Outcome Document, the fight against inequality will remain a major commitment, as it states that “we will take action to combat inequalities within and between countries.” We are convinced that inequality is not inevitable, but fighting it will require strong political will, solidarity, and cooperation. To explore potential strategies to tackle inequalities while mobilizing resources to finance sustainable development, this side-event will highlight the role of progressive tax reforms, especially targeting high-net-worth individuals, as well as social protection systems.

Objective

This side event will be an opportunity to exchange best practices and explore policy innovations targeting the reduction of domestic and global inequalities. Specifically, the event aims to:

• Foster discussions among policymakers, international organizations, and civil society on how to advance an action agenda against inequalities in 2025, with concrete strategies to expand fiscal space for inclusive growth and protect vulnerable populations, while reducing the gap between the top and the rest of society, fostering a more just, resilient, and sustainable global economy.
• Highlight the importance of interministerial and intergovernmental coordination to advancing policies concerning income and wealth distribution, strengthening social safety nets, and ensuring balanced economic growth.
• Encourage countries to push forward a long-lasting agenda against inequality, building on the coalitions from the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development.

Agenda

Moderated by Betty Wainaina, Program Director, CIC

2:30–3:00 p.m. Opening remarks

• H.E. Carlos Cuerpo, Minister for Economy, Trade and Business, Spain
• H.E. Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance, South Africa
• Tatiana Rosito, Ambassador and Secretary for International Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Brazil

3:00–3:40 p.m. Interactive Dialogue

• Abhijit Banerjee, Professor of Economics MIT, Director J-PAL, Nobel in Economics
• Magdalena Sepúlveda, Executive Director of UNRISD, ICRICT Commissioner
• Jayati Ghosh, Co-chair, ICRICT
• Shahra Razavi, Director Social Protection ILO
• Alexandra Hass, Oxfam International

3:40–3:55 p.m. Comments from the audience
3:55–4:00 p.m. Closing remarks:

• H.E. Wellington Dias, Minister of Social Development and Fight against Hunger, Brazil.