June 1, 2001 - Stephen Lewis

Human Rights a Day

Canada's Stephen Lewis appointed UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Stephen Lewis was born into a politically active family on November 11, 1937. His father, David Lewis, led the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) in the early 1970s; the younger Lewis followed in his footsteps at the provincial level. At 26 and still a student at the University of Toronto, Lewis was elected to the Ontario legislature, where he became its leader only seven years later. Under his leadership, the NDP became the official Opposition. Six years after he stepped down, Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney boldly appointed Lewis as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations. Lewis occupied the post from 1984 until 1988, but his work at the international level continued, including work as the Deputy Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the African Unity panel to investigate the genocide in Rwanda. On June 1, 2001, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Lewis his special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. As AIDS continued to ravage Africa, Lewis travelled the globe working to get relief and funding that would help stop the disease’s spread. Lewis held that job until the end of 2006. He holds 20 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and is the recipient of Canada’s highest honour, Companion of the Order of Canada. In April 2005, TIME magazine listed him as one of the ‘100 most influential people in the world.’