Stephen Lewis, the Canadian diplomat, politician and human rights advocate, has died of cancer at the age of 88. Lewis spent decades focusing global attention on the HIV/Aids epidemic, serving as Canada's ambassador to the United Nations and leader of Ontario's New Democratic Party (NDP).
His family said in a statement: 'Stephen spent the last eight years of his life battling cancer with the same indomitable energy he brought to his lifelong work: the unending struggle for justice and dignity for every human life. The world has lost a voice of unmatched eloquence and integrity.'
Prime Minister Mark Carney paid tribute, calling Lewis 'a pillar of compassionate leadership in Canadian democracy, and a renowned global champion for human rights and multilateralism.'
Lewis was the son of former federal NDP leader David Lewis and father of Avi Lewis, who was elected leader of the federal NDP on Sunday, a day before his father's death. In his victory speech, Avi Lewis said his father was 'not doing too well' but was 'hanging on from his hospital bed to see the next chapter of the movement.'
After leading the Ontario NDP, Lewis became Canada's UN ambassador, then special adviser to the UN secretary-general on African affairs, deputy director of Unicef, and UN special envoy for HIV/Aids in Africa. He co-founded the Stephen Lewis Foundation with his daughter Ilana Landsberg-Lewis.
Lewis held 42 honorary degrees and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2002. Two schools in Toronto are named after him.
