The Society of St. Yves, Working for Human Rights

"If you are neutral in a situation of injustice, you have chosen to side with the oppressor."  The motto which can be read on the brochure of Saint Yves has been accompanying for twenty years the activity of this society situated in the heart of Old Jerusalem. Saint Yves is named after the patron saint of lawyers who gave his name to the company, as wanted by Michel Sabbah in 1991. And today it is precisely a lawyer, Raffoul Rofa, who leads the company which tirelessly tries to offer help and support - regardless of nationality or religion - to all those who live in needy conditions.RAFFAOUL ROFADirector, Society of St. YvesThis year marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the society, and today we have 17 employees and 7 lawyers who work in two offices, one in Jerusalem - near the headquarters of the Patriarchate - and one in Bethlehem.To recover the dignity of every person who lives in the Holy Land, the society  Saint Yves works for justice and equality for all, and tries to fight the adverse impacts of a situation of conflict, also through legal action. There is, for instance, the issue of the confiscation or demolition of homes, particularly in East Jerusalem, where 60,000 Palestinians live with the fear that their homes might be demolished -- claims Rofa. Or the issue of permits and of freedom of movement, or that of the reunification of families, "divided" by identity documents that are difficult to obtain.At the end of the interview we see him chatting with those who pass by to ask for help at center, with those who suffer injustice and yet with whom - despite everything -- he has not given up hope.

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