Fair finance advocates have produced new tools to re-balance tax policies and human rights.

A new publication by RightingFinance centres on the implications of civil and political rights for tax policy.

The connection between civil and political rights and tax policy is so strong, that in a 2014 report on tax policy and human rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights in 2014 said that the link runs both ways - civil and political rights bear consequences for tax policy.

However, the formation of accountable states is closely tied to the emergence of taxation.

This means that where tax abuse and unfair tax practices erode confidence in government, the environment will be less prone to foster the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs.

The new publication by RightingFinance is the latest in a series of advocacy tools on tax policy and human rights that aim to assist education and dissemination of standards on tax policy and human rights.

Each of the advocacy tools addresses normative foundations of the rights in question, their applications to tax policy – including explanations and references to practical examples – and guiding questions for reflection.

The full report is available in PDF form, here.