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	Violent discipline, sexual abuse and homicides stalk millions of children worldwide by Unicef Office of Research (Innocenti)   Nov. 2017   Staggering numbers of children – some as young as 12 months old – are experiencing violence, often by those entrusted to take care of them, UNICEF said in a new report released this week.   “The harm inflicted on children around the world is truly worrying,” said UNICEF Chief of Child Protection Cornelius Williams. “Babies slapped in the face; girls and boys forced into sexual acts; adolescents murdered in their communities – violence against children spares no one and knows no boundaries.”   A Familiar Face: Violence in the lives of children and adolescents uses the very latest data to show that children experience violence across all stages of childhood and in all settings:   Violence against young children in their homes:   Three-quarters of the world’s 2- to 4-year-old children – around 300 million – experience psychological aggression and/or physical punishment by their caregivers at home;   Around 6 in 10 one year olds in 30 countries with available data are subjected to violent discipline on a regular basis. Nearly a quarter of one-year-olds are physically shaken as punishment and nearly 1 in 10 are hit or slapped on the face, head or ears.   Worldwide, 1 in 4 children under age five – 176 million – are living with a mother who is a victim of intimate partner violence.   Sexual violence against girls and boys:   Worldwide, around 15 million adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forced sexual acts in their lifetime.   Only 1 per cent of adolescent girls who had experienced sexual violence said they reached out for professional help.   In the 28 countries with data, 90 per cent of adolescent girls who had experienced forced sex, on average, said the perpetrator of the first incident was known to them.   Data from six countries reveals friends, classmates and partners were among the most frequently cited perpetrators of sexual violence against adolescent boys.   Violent deaths among adolescents:   Globally, every 7 minutes an adolescent is killed by an act of violence.   In the United States, non-Hispanic black boys aged 10 to 19 years old are almost 19 times more likely to be murdered than non-Hispanic white boys of the same age. If the homicide rate among non-Hispanic black adolescent boys is applied nationwide, the United States would be one of the top ten most deadly countries in the world.   In 2015, the risk of being killed by homicide for a non-Hispanic black adolescent boy in the United States was the same as the risk of being killed due to collective violence for an adolescent boy living in war-torn South Sudan.   Latin America and the Caribbean is the only region where adolescent homicide rates have increased; nearly half of all homicides among adolescents globally occurred in this region in 2015.   Violence in schools:   Half the population of school-age children – 732 million – live in countries where corporal punishment at school is not fully prohibited.   Three-quarters of documented school shootings that have taken place over the past 25 years occurred in the United States.   UNICEF Innocenti is conducting an ongoing multi-country study on the drivers of violence affecting children in Italy, Peru, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. One of the key emerging findings is that violence affecting children should not be understood as an interaction between a child and another person, but through the socio-ecology of violence with complex, shifting layers of exposure to violence in all its forms.   UNICEF prioritises efforts to end violence across all its work, including supporting government efforts to improve services for children affected by violence, developing policies and legislation that protect children, and helping communities, parents and children to prevent violence through practical programmes like parenting courses and actions against domestic violence.   To end violence against children, UNICEF is calling for governments to take urgent action and support the INSPIRE guidance which has been agreed and promoted by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, including:   Adopting well-coordinated national action plans to end violence against children – incorporating education, social welfare, justice and health systems, as well as communities and children themselves.   Changing behaviours of adults and addressing factors that contribute to violence against children, including economic and social inequities, social and cultural norms that condone violence, inadequate policies and legislation, insufficient services for victims, and limited investments in effective systems to prevent and respond to violence.   Focussing national policies on minimizing violent behaviour, reducing inequalities, and limiting access to firearms and other weapons.   Building social service systems and training social workers to provide referrals, counselling and therapeutic services for children who have experienced violence.   Educating children, parents, teachers, and community members to recognise violence in all its many forms and empowering them to speak out and report violence safely.   Collecting better disaggregated data on violence against children and tracking progress through robust monitoring and evaluation.   http://www.unicef.org/endviolence/   * Access the report via the link below. 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	Tax Justice Network calls on UN to convene a global summit to end tax abuse and financial crime by Tax Justice Network, ICIJ, agencies International Consortium of Investigative Journalists   Nov. 2017   Paradise Papers leak reveals secrets of the world elite''s hidden wealth   The world’s biggest businesses, heads of state and global figures in politics, entertainment and sport who have sheltered their wealth in secretive tax havens are being revealed this week in a major new investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.   The details come from a leak of 13.4m files that expose the global environments in which tax abuses can thrive – and the complex and seemingly artificial ways the wealthiest corporations can legally protect their wealth.   The material, which has come from two offshore service providers and the company registries of 19 tax havens, was obtained by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists with partners including the Guardian, the BBC and the New York Times.   The publication of this investigation, for which more than 380 journalists have spent a year combing through data that stretches back 70 years, comes at a time of record global income inequality.   The Paradise Papers reveal offshore interests and activities of more than 120 politicians and world leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II whose private estate indirectly invested in a rent-to-own loan company accused of predatory tactics. At least 13 allies, major donors and Cabinet members of U.S. President Donald J. Trump appear, including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’s interests in a shipping company that makes millions from an energy firm whose owners include Russian President Vladimir Putin’s son-in-law and a sanctioned Russian tycoon.   The leaked files from Appleby, the offshore law firm, include details of tax planning by nearly 100 multinational corporations, including Apple, Nike and Uber.   Meanwhile, multinational companies are shifting profits offshore – €600bn in the last year alone – the leading economist Gabriel Zucman will reveal in a study to be published this week.   “Tax havens are one of the key engines of the rise in global inequality,” he said. “As inequality rises, offshore tax evasion is becoming an elite sport.”   At the centre of the leak is Appleby, a law firm with outposts in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. In contrast to Mossack Fonseca, the discredited firm at the centre of last year’s Panama Papers investigation, Appleby prides itself on being a leading member of the “magic circle” of top-ranking offshore service providers.   ICIJ and its media partners will be publishing multiple stories in the coming days and weeks, including:   Stories on strategies used by multinational corporations to shift profits to low-tax jurisdictions; stories that look behind the huge offshore trust funds held by rich and powerful people; how prominent political donors in the U.S. make use of offshore financial structures; and reporting on tax haven shopping sprees by multinational companies in Africa and Asia that use shell companies. ICIJ will also release the structured data connected to the Paradise Papers investigation in the coming weeks on its Offshore Leaks Database.   http://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/ http://www.icij.org/tags/paradise-papers/ http://www.icij.org/blog/ http://www.icij.org/investigations/ http://bbc.in/2zf4FI1 http://www.theguardian.com/world/tax-havens   Nov. 2017   Tax Justice Network calls on UN to convene a global summit to end tax abuse and financial crime.   The ‘Paradise Papers’ have once again highlighted the failure of governments around the world to deal with the scourge of tax dodging and financial crime facilitated by offshore financial centres, and we commend the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) on their fearless investigative journalism.   The Tax Justice Network is calling on world leaders to commit finally to ending tax abuse and financial secrecy. The United Nations should convene a summit of world leaders with the goal of agreeing a UN convention to end tax abuse and financial secrecy. World leaders need to agree binding targets to reduce all forms of illicit financial flows, with accountability mechanisms to ensure progress.   Research from the Tax Justice Network shows that the level of profit shifting by multinational companies has exploded over the last decade. The latest estimates show that world governments are losing $500bn a year in taxes due to tax avoidance by large companies. A further $200bn a year is estimated to be lost due to the undeclared offshore wealth of tax evading individuals.   The Paradise Papers is the largest leak of data to date from the world of financial secrecy. And once again, the leaks confirm that this is not a marginal activity, but a systemic, global issue. Major corporations and wealthy elites are dodging taxes – and their obligations to society – with impunity, supported by the biggest banks, accountants and lawyers.   Nor are these victimless crimes – far from it. These truly anti-social actions undermine public health and education systems, and drive inequality and corruption – leaving the poorest families and the poorest countries of the world to suffer. Tax Justice Network research confirms that lower-income countries bear a disproportionate share of the burden from global tax abuse – and this has direct costs in terms of everything from foregone economic growth to excess child mortality.   In response to the leaks Alex Cobham, chief executive of the Tax Justice Network said:   “These leaks confirm the systemic nature of tax abuse and corrupt practices, with global financial secrecy being marketed by major law firms, banks and accounting firms. Government efforts to combat this problem have been piecemeal at best. And that is why the Tax Justice Network is today calling for a genuinely global response.   “World leaders need to seize the moment and convene at the UN to agree a path to ending financial secrecy and tax abuse for good. And we, as citizens of the world, must demand this from our elected representatives. Otherwise we may as well just sit and wait for the next leak – because those profiting from these anti-social practices will never stop on their own.”   Liz Nelson Director of TJN’s work on tax justice and human rights said:   “Financial secrecy jurisdictions, by damaging public services and driving inequality infringe on fundamental rights including right to life, freedom from poverty, and basic sanitation.   “By eating away at government revenue they deny women and other historically discriminated against groups fundamental rights to health, education, to political participation, economic empowerment and access to justice”.   John Christensen, Chair of the Tax Justice Network said:   “Law firms like Appleby specialise in providing offshore structures to their global clientele. Appleby needs to be thoroughly investigated to ensure that their partners and staff have not been knowingly facilitating criminal and corrupt practices.   “For too long lawyers have hidden behind client privilege to protect clients from investigation: the Paradise Paper revelations, and the Panama Papers stories that preceded them, show that lawyers cannot be trusted to respect the laws of sovereign states.   “Any lawyer who fails to report suspicious client activities should face strict penalties, involving custodial sentences and loss of professional status. Strong measures are needed to rebuild public confidence in the law professions.”   http://www.taxjustice.net/2017/11/05/press-release-tjn-responds-paradisepapers/ http://www.taxjustice.net/2017/11/13/paradisepapers-un-human-rights-experts-react-states-must-act-abusive-tax-conduct/ http://www.icrict.org/time-for-the-un-to-act-to-end-tax-abuse-and-financial-secrecy/ http://www.cesr.org/tax-abuse-and-human-rights-closing-gap-between-whats-legal-and-whats-just http://bit.ly/2hIWZU2   Nov. 2017   #ParadisePapers: Time to clean up the offshore financial havens. (Transparency International)   The ‘Paradise Papers’ revelations published on 5 November by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and its partners show how the rich and powerful around the world are able to hide wealth through complex and opaque financial structures which allow them to keep their business dealings secret.   These secret structures can also be used by the corrupt. As ICIJ writes in its introduction to the leak: “While having an offshore entity is often legal, the built-in secrecy attracts money launderers, drug traffickers, kleptocrats and others who want to operate in the shadows.”   The sheer volume of the Paradise Papers documents hints at a vast, secret parallel financial universe: 13.4 million files were analysed by 381 journalists at 96 media outlets in 67 countries. The countries involved include Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, UK, and the US.   “The high-profile list of people and corporations in this latest scandal is shocking. Clearly financial oversight authorities and lawmakers must realise the system is broken. Complex, cross-border structures are being used to facilitate a wide range of secret activity, which could include corruption, fraud and abusive tax schemes,” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, chair of Transparency International.   “Too many people are finding ways to hide wealth. If that wealth is from the proceeds of corruption it means criminals are being given the means to live off ill-gotten gains. Too often money that should go to improve the lives of ordinary people is siphoned off by corrupt officials and then used to fund luxury lifestyles. This must be stopped,” said Ferreira Rubio.   Public figures are shown to have hidden offshore investments, while companies involved include household names such as Apple, Nike and Uber.   The full impact of the Paradise Papers will only become clear in the coming days, weeks and months. ICIJ’s media partners plan to publish more stories on a daily basis this week, while legal analysis will no doubt unfold for far longer still.   Transparency International is calling for stricter measures to regulate the financial sector and their participants, including real estate brokers, lawyers and bankers.   Beneficial ownership transparency   All countries should have central, public registers of the real owners of companies, as well as registers containing information on all parties to trusts. Governments should require any company bidding for a public contract or purchasing and selling property to publicly disclose its beneficial ownership information.   Anti-money laundering measures   Law firms and intermediaries who set up offshore companies and trusts should know their clients and report suspicious activities to authorities. They should not routinely offer layers of secrecy to their clients   When facilitators fail to meet their obligations, authorities should impose appropriate sanctions, from fines and de-licensing of companies to prosecution of individuals.   Luxury goods and real estate   There must be special due diligence requirements that are enforced by the vendors of luxury items, including property in centres like London and New York, to ensure that the money used for purchases is not the proceeds of corruption.   In the wake of the Panama Papers last year, at least 150 inquiries, audits or investigations have been announced in 79 countries and governments are investigating more than 6,500 taxpayers and companies. The Paradise Papers must not only lead to investigations but should show how important it is to end secrecy in the financial system. http://bit.ly/2zfXn6R   Nov. 2017   Global Financial Integrity calls on Governments to collect and publish all Beneficial Ownership Information to limit future abuses like those in the Paradise and Panama Papers Leaks.   Leaked documents from the global offshore law firm Appleby, revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) bring to light again the global shadow financial system for the rich and powerful of the world, noted Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington, DC-based research and advisory organization.   “Appleby has shown on paper that it is aware of its requirements to conduct thorough and honest customer due diligence with potential and existing clients, but the leaked files seem to show that it’s rarely putting this into practice. Law firms and other Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions cannot continue to be left to police themselves—jurisdictions need to require and publish public beneficial ownership information,” said GFI Legal Counsel & Director of Government Affairs Heather Lowe.   “Doing legitimate business in offshore secrecy jurisdictions like Bermuda is not illegal, but the Paradise Papers investigation is yet another example of how individuals and businesses, thanks to offshore law firms like Appleby and Estera are systematically abusing the secrecy they provide” said GFI President Raymond Baker.   GFI research estimates that opacity in the global financial system, thanks to tax haven secrecy, anonymous companies, trade-based money laundering, and lax financial crime enforcement, churns illicit financial flows (IFFs) in and out of developing countries worth at least 14.1 to 24.0 percent of developing country trade, on average per year, based on measurable sources of IFFs. This global shadow financial system bleeds the world’s poorest economies and propels crime, corruption, and tax evasion.   “The Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have solidified this link between illicit financial flows (IFFs) and development, and Goal 16 in the SDGs calls on countries to reduce their illicit financial flows,” noted Managing Director Tom Cardamone.   “The SDGs will not succeed while the Appleby’s of the world and their clients conspire to engage in corruption and tax abuses, taking money and resources away from public budgets.” http://bit.ly/2yxxFv7   Nov. 2017   States must act against “abusive” tax conduct of corporations - UN human rights experts.   International corporations responsible for systematic tax abuse should be downgraded by rating agencies and investment funds in their environmental, social and governance performance, UN human rights experts have said, as information from the leaked Paradise Papers continues to be made public.   “States must stop harmful tax competition amongst each other and work together to stop unethical tax avoidance schemes for wealthy individuals and international corporations. Corporate tax abuse undermines social justice and human rights worldwide,” said Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, whose remit as a UN Independent Expert includes monitoring the impact of illicit financial flows on human rights.   The Paradise Papers have exposed systematic tax avoidance schemes by well-known international corporations, making use of tax havens in places such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and the Isle of Man.   “We call on businesses to assume their corporate responsibility, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”, said Surya Deva, chairperson of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. “All business enterprises have a responsibility to avoid adverse human rights impacts caused or contributed by their tax evasion practices”.   The experts stressed how business enterprises should comply with both the letter and spirit of tax laws and duly contribute to the public finances of the countries in which they operate, as also clarified in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.   The experts note that the series of scandals, including the Luxembourg and Bahamas leaks, the HSBC files, the Panama Papers, and now the Paradise Papers, made it clear there were widespread practices of tax abuse that had to be addressed.   “Wealthy individuals and international corporations are continuing to engage in unethical practices, reducing their tax burdens to minimal levels by using tax havens, which undermines the realisation of human rights” said Mr. Bohoslavsky.   The experts noted that many States are struggling with increased debt levels as tax revenues do not match public expenditure. “Instead reducing spending on social security, public health care, housing or education, Governments should make greater efforts to ensure tax justice,” the experts said   The experts pointed out that corporations use publicly-funded infrastructure to transport and sell their products, employ people who have normally been educated at public expense, and expect their managers and employees to receive publicly-funded health care when they are ill. Yet, corporations shift their profits around to reduce their own tax contribution to a minimum.   The experts also noted that the law firms that facilitate tax avoidance schemes must assume their responsibility.   “The UN Guiding Principles apply to law firms too – they should consider human rights implications of their legal advice given to businesses”, Mr. Deva noted, drawing attention to the Practical Guide on Business and Human Rights for Business Lawyers adopted by the International Bar Association in 2016.   “It is not sufficient for business corporations to ensure respect for human rights and international labour standards in business practices and value chains. These commitments have to extend to taxation, if firms are to be regarded as ethical,” the experts concluded. http://bit.ly/2yOWG4U   * In October, the Swiss financial firm UBS reported that the wealth of the world''s 1,542 billionaires grew by 17 percent in 2016, bringing their combined fortune to over $6 trillion. Josef Stadler, lead author of the UBS analysis, told reporters that the firm''s findings demonstrate that the world is "now two years into the peak of the second Gilded Age." Today just 8 men own as much wealth as half of the global population. How much longer will the world''s population tolerate such vast inequities, Stadler asked.   * Access the ICIJ Paradise Papers investigation via the link below. Visit the related web page
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