Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will require reaching the most vulnerable people urgently.<\/p>\n
Private companies, who are obliged to consider profit, are more likely to spend money where profits are highest, rather than where human rights needs are greatest. Spending money on human rights such as health and education – particularly for those with low incomes – is not likely to make a direct profit at all.<\/p>\n
Spending decisions must be shaped by people\u2019s needs to ensure no one is left behind.<\/p>\n
Governments and public agencies are in a better position to do this, using \u2018public money\u2019. They can prioritise the indirect benefits of spending on human rights for the most vulnerable – such as the creation of safe, healthy, well-educated communities across society.<\/p>\n
In this way, spending on health, education, housing and social care for those most in need becomes a \u2018public good\u2019 – something from which we all benefit.<\/p>\n
Many politicians in high income countries have already woken up to the fact that public money is the best way to deliver public goods. The privatisation of public services is increasingly recognised as a failure in the UK, with Chancellor Hammond promising no more \u2018private finance initiatives\u2019 to pay for our NHS.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time our politicians extended the same logic to achieveing the SDGs.<\/p>\n
Where could new public money to fill the SDGs funding gap come from? One smart solution is using Global Solidarity Levies<\/strong>. These are small taxes on those who can best afford to pay a bit more.<\/p>\n Global solidarity levies have already raised billions for human rights needs all around the world. For example, a small levy on airline tickets in ten countries including France, Korea and Chile has generated more than $3billion for UNITAID<\/a> to deliver HIV\/AIDS, TB and malaria treatments in low-income countries.<\/p>\n Global Solidarity Levies:<\/p>\n Check out our campaigns for smart solutions like Robin Hood Tax<\/a> and the Climate Damages Tax<\/a> to see how Global Solidarity Levies work<\/p>\n Other smart solutions ideas include a crackdown on huge global companies that dodge paying taxes in low income countries, and wiping out unpayable debts for the lowest income countries.<\/p>\n\n