Veteran Canadian politician Stephen Lewis is one of the guest speakers scheduled to address delegates attending the 37th General Synod of the Anglican
Church of Canada, to be held at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ont. He will speak during the HIV/AIDS workshop planned for Wednesday, June 2.
Mr.Lewis was appointed special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in June 2001.
In this capacity, he has traveled throughout the African continent to learn more about the impact of HIV/AIDS. He works closely with African leaders, a United Nations team, and the resident coordinators in each country he visits.
Before assuming his current responsibilities, Mr. Lewis served as Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) from 1995-1999. From 1984-1998, he served as Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations. In this capacity, he chaired the committee that drafted the Five-Year UN Program on African Economic Recovery.
In 1997, in addition to his UNICEF responsibilities, he was appointed by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to an International Panel of Eminent Personalities to investigate the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. The “Rwanda Report” was released in June 2000.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Lewis was a member of the Ontario Legislature, becoming leader of the New Democratic Party and leader of the official Opposition. He holds 18 honorary degrees from Canadian universities. And in 2003, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest honour for lifetime achievement.
In addition to his UN duties, Mr. Lewis has set up a charitable foundation to help local African agencies battle the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS.
The organization’s goals, according to its Web site are:”Easing the plight of those women who are dying from AIDS, helping the orphans they leave behind, and assisting the remarkable efforts of groups of people living with HIV/AIDS.” The foundation plans to work in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Rwanda.
For more information on Stephen Lewis, visit www.stephenlewisfoundation.org.
Information about the 37th General Synod can be found at: gs2004.anglican.ca
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