PREFACE 1 can holdpublic office. can decideifthosewith assetsintaxhavens has calledforareferendum so thatthepeople At anationallevel,our President RafaelCorrea combat thisinjusticewithconcrete proposals. hasdecidedto Ecuador's government and education. human rightssuchasaccesstohealthcare global inequalityandtheyunderminebasic Tax havenscontributeto obscene levelsof responsibility orethics. capital actingwithout is yetanotherexampleof money toavoidpayingtaxes This globalsystemofhiding scandals ofthe21stcentury. T

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If this measure, known as the Ethical Pact, is adopted then Ecuador will become the first country where, because of a popular decision, the elites will have to choose between hiding their money in tax havens and holding public office.

At an international level, we are constructing alliances with academics, politicians, economists, social movements and NGOs to push for the creation of a UN global body that can put an end to tax havens.

In this struggle, Ecuador is not alone, people across the world are united with our campaign. We invite you to read here a small example of the support we have received.

Dr. Guillaume Long Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ecuador

2 Winnie Byanyima - OXFAM

Executive Director of OXFAM International

“A new UN-led global tax body must now be established where all countries can“ work together as equal partners to put an end to tax havens

for good.

On behalf of Oxfam,“ I am proud to “stand with Ecuador to call for an end to tax havens.

3 Jeffrey Sachs - United States

Professor of Sustainable Development, Columbia University

“The world should now stand in solidarity with the Government of

Ecuador in its call for the U.N. to take a much stronger stance against tax dodging in general, tax“ havens in particular and in favor of the broad issue of tax justice.

4 Alicia Bárcena - ECLAC

Executive Secretary of the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

“Companies should pay what is right in the countries where they do business.

Not only in countries where they are domiciled. We need new global fiscal compact to address the issue of tax“ havens and contribute to financing the sustainable development goals. Ecuador cannot“ go alone, we must “work together as Latin America and the Caribbean.

5 John Pilger - Australia

Award winning journalist and author

“President Correa's referendum on tax havens is one of the most important initiatives by a national leader in the modern era. Tax havens help impoverish millions of people; in Latin America the tax realised on secret stashes would rejuvenate whole economies. Ecuador is the first country ever to take this initiative and should be supported by all states that regard themselves as civilised. With his proposal“ to the United Nations, Rafael Correa deserves to count on new allies.

6 Maite Mola - Spain

Vice-President, European Left Party

“We think the proposal made by Rafael Correa is important - to call a referendum to decide whether a person who is elected may have money in tax havens.

All our support for Rafael Correa and to the people“ of Ecuador for being an example of democracy for the rest of the world.

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(2013-2015)

former Economy Minister Minister Economy former

Chamber of Deputies, and and Deputies, of Chamber

Economic Commission of the the of Commission Economic

Deputies, President of the the of President Deputies,

Member of Chamber of of Chamber of Member Axel Kicillof - Argentina - Kicillof Axel Mark Weisbrot - United States

Economist, Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research

“It is a great thing that Ecuador has shown leadership on tax havens, as this is something people all over the

world are organizing for. As the

pressure builds in the United Nations and throughout the“ world I think we can win this, because there is a lot of support for it.

9 Marie Arena -

Member of the for the Socialist Party, former Minister of Belgium, Economist

“We need to support the referendum initiative of Ecuador because tax

havens are harmful for everyone. Taxes should be used for “ education, health, infrastructure, for the people who need them most.

10 Erika Dayle - United States Secretary Director, Independent Commission for Corporate Tax Reform. Former advisor to the UN on tax issues

“It is very important to introduce this referendum and also to bring this best practice to the UN and other global forums so that other countries can see that solutions do not have to come from the most“ powerful countries, they can come from the global South.

11 Lidy Nacpil - Philippines

Coordinating Committee Member - Global Alliance on Tax Justice

“we really commend the initiative to have a referendum around the question

of tax havens and to prevent people in Ecuador from running for public office “ and at the same time holding their money in tax havens outside Ecuador.

12 Dennis Holwett - Canada

Executive Director of Canadians for Tax Fairness. Expert at the Finance Committee of the Canadian Parliament

“I think the referendum proposal in Ecuador is very interesting. We

believe this will be a good way to raise public awareness“ about the conflict of interest that some politicians have.

13 Richard Wilkinson - United Kingdom

Author of The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone and Co-Founder of The Equality Trust

“I very much welcome President Correa's initiative to ban politicians from using tax havens. Politicians should be model citizens who set standards of ethical behaviour“ rather than examples of greed and self-aggrandizement.

14 Ecuador: A global leader against tax havens

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