By zainab.joaque@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, Sierra Leone – At the UN Headquarters in New York, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Meeting on International Cooperation in Tax Matters convened on March 28, 2025, to address the need for inclusive and effective tax systems globally.
Delivering a keynote address virtually, Jeneba J. Bangura, Commissioner-General of Sierra Leone’s National Revenue Authority and Vice Chairperson of the ATAF Women in Tax Network, emphasized the urgency of gender-responsive tax policies. Her speech, titled “Advancing Gender Inclusivity through Tax Policy Design and Implementation,”underscored the role of taxation in shaping economic access and empowerment, particularly as the world approaches the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Bangura highlighted how tax structures often overlook marginalized groups, exacerbating inequalities, especially gender disparity. “Tax policy defines who has access to resources and the freedom to develop themselves,” she stated. She warned that without gender-conscious tax reforms, inequalities will only deepen, stressing, “The absence of gender considerations in tax policy does not mean zero change—it often means growing inequality.”
On a global scale, Bangura pointed to UN initiatives like the Beijing Declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as frameworks for advancing gender equity. Domestically, she criticized tax policies that disproportionately burden women, citing reliance on consumption taxes such as VAT and tax incentives favouring male-dominated sectors. “Tax structures must recognize the specific challenges women face in accessing economic opportunities,” she urged.
Bangura called for active female participation in tax policy formulation. “Women must not simply ‘have their voices heard’—they must be central in decision-making,” she asserted, advocating for evidence-based policies to drive real change.
Highlighting progress in Sierra Leone, she pointed to the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy and Act. “The 2023 Finance Act introduced tax incentives for companies that hire more women and ensure at least 30% female representation in senior management,” she noted, positioning Sierra Leone as a leader in gender-responsive taxation.
The afternoon panel delved into gender biases in taxation, the need for gender-disaggregated data, and strategies for equitable fiscal policies. One panelist stressed, “Without evidence-led insights, policies risk overlooking the very perspectives they aim to address.”
Interactive discussions among Member States, civil society, academia, and businesses explored solutions to enhance gender equity through tax reform. The ECOSOC President and Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs reinforced the importance of multistakeholder collaboration in combating illicit financial flows, increasing transparency, and ensuring fair resource distribution.
As the global tax policy landscape evolves, Bangura’s call to action remains clear: women must not only benefit from tax reforms but also shape them. The legacy of the 1995 Beijing Conference serves as both a milestone and a call to action for achieving true gender-responsive taxation worldwide. ZIJ/1/4/2025
 Special Meeting on International Cooperation in Tax Matters convened on March 28, 2025, to address the need for inclusive and effective tax systems globally.){kind=link}