Charities have paid tribute to Lord Joffe, who was chair of Oxfam between 1995 and 1991, after he died on Sunday following a short illness.
As a young lawyer Joel Joffe defended Nelson Mandela at the 1963-4 Riviona Trial, before being exiled to Britian in 1965 when he worked at an insurance company which grew to be Allied Dunbar. He was involved with Oxfam for 20 years, including spending six years as the charity’s chair. He was awarded the CBE in 1999, and in 2000 became a Labour peer as Baron Joffe of Liddington. In his later life he campaigned for assisted dying for the terminally ill.
He was born in 1932 in Johannesburg, South Africa and described himself as having a passion for justice.
The Joffe Charitable Trust, which was set up by Lord Joffe I and Vanetta Joffe in 1965, supports development in the developing world, primarily in Anglophone sub Saharan Africa.
In a statement on its website, it said: “We are very sorry to announce that Joel Joffe died peacefully at home on 18th June 2017 after a short illness.
“He was a friend, inspiration and support to many fighting poverty and injustice. The Joffe Charitable Trust will continue to work for these goals.
“Joel's family expect to announce a memorial event later in the year.”
Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB's chief executive, said: "Joel had an enormous influence on Oxfam and its staff for over the 20 years. His unswerving sense of justice and commitment to ending poverty was an inspiration to all those who worked with him. He was able to use his sharp legal mind and years of experience in business to challenge authority and increase the effectiveness of our work around the world.
“His fearless campaigning for care of the elderly, corporate responsibility and global development shaped the world for the better, yet he always maintained his trademark self-deprecating sense of humour. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."
A statement from Dignity in Dying said: “All of us at Dignity in Dying are devastated to hear of Lord Joffe’s death. Joel was a passionate campaigner and an exceptional advocate for the legalisation of assisted dying.
“His death after a short illness is terribly sad for all of us, who will miss him dearly. Joel’s legacy as a pioneering campaigner and passionate advocate will live on for many years to come.”
Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, tweeted: “Very sad to hear of the death of Joel Joffe a campaigner for social justice and friend of the sector – condolences.”
