Jesuit Refugee Service

Jesuit Refugee Service
AbbreviationJRS
Formation14 November 1980; 43 years ago (1980-11-14)
FounderFr Pedro Arrupe SJ
HeadquartersRome
Region
over 50 countries worldwide
AffiliationsSociety of Jesus
Websitehttps://jrs.net

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, that they may heal, learn, and determine their own future. Founded in November 1980 as a work of the Society of Jesus, JRS was officially registered on 19 March 2000 in Vatican City as a foundation. The impetus to found JRS came from the then superior general of the Jesuits, Pedro Arrupe, who was inspired to action by the plight of Vietnamese boat people.[1] JRS has programmes in over 55 countries. The areas of work are in the field of education, emergency assistance, health care, livelihoods, reconciliation, and psychosocial support. JRS is also involved in advocacy and human rights work. This involves ensuring that refugees are afforded their full rights as guaranteed by the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees[2] and working to strengthen the protection afforded to Internally displaced persons (IDPs).[3] JRS's international headquarters is located in Rome at the Society's General Curia. The International Director is Br Michael Schöpf SJ.

  1. ^ "Pope Francis meets with Jesuit Refugee Service". Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference UNHCR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Jesuit Refugee Service". Retrieved 16 November 2018.