Former human rights advocate, political activist, and tireless diplomat Stephen Lewis passed away March 31 from cancer at the age of 88. We honour his legacy, including his support of and contributions to our work.
Stephen was both an elected politician and a diplomat. He was Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Deputy Director of UNICEF, UN advisor on African affairs, and UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. In these roles, he fought for social justice and human rights.
Through this work he also recognized the importance of supporting disability rights. He worked closely with Steve Estey and contributed to the Engendering Disability-Inclusive Development – Genre, handicapet développement inclusif (EDID-GHDI) partnership which began in 2020 with a focus on rights and justice for and with diverse women and girls with disabilities. Stephen Lewis was a member of the initial EDID-GHDI’s Council of Advisors, offering insights and reflections with the Leadership Team from his experiences. We continue to carry with us Stephen’s drive for change and passion for equity as the partnership continues.
As we mourn the loss of a powerful human rights advocate, we remember this quote by Stephen: The power of a moment lies not in its duration, but in its impact. Though Stephen’s time with us is finished, his impact will fuel generations of activists and change makers.