Globe and Mail Update Published on Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008 12:25AM EST Last updated on Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2009 9:20PM EDT
As The Globe and Mail moves towards selecting our Nation Builder of 2008 at the end of December, we will be highlighting nominations from our readers on who they believe deserves special recognition for making a major contribution to Canadian society this year. Today, you have suggested former international envoy Stephen Lewis.
Canadian Woman from Canada writes: I nominate Stephen Lewis as an amazing Canadian inspiration, role model and internationally respected Canadian for his work with AIDS victims and their families, as well as for lobbying for generic drug availability for AIDS sufferers.
Lee C from Canada writes: Stephen Lewis - It doesn't matter what the topic is, he inspires me as a human being.
Peter M from Canada writes: Stephen Lewis would be a great choice. His conduct as UN AIDS envoy was inspiring. His refusal to be diplomatic about the failure of the UN and its major powers to respond to the African pandemic was something to be proud of, in the best tradition of Canadian leadership internationally.
Janet Pattinson from Salmon Arm, Canada writes: I nominate Stephen Lewis. He makes us feel good about being Canadian. He is a role model for young and old. Anyone who has had the opportunity to hear him speak will attest to that. But he does more than speak, he is one who walks the talk.
Stephen Lewis is a popular annual candidate for Nation Builder from our readers who recognize his long fight against disease and poverty in the developing world.
Mr. Lewis's work with the United Nations spanned more than two decades. He was the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from June 2001 until the end of 2006. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Lewis was deputy executive director of UNICEF at the organization's global headquarters in New York. From 1984 through 1988, he was Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations.
Mr. Lewis was a member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly from 1963 to 1978. In 1970, he became leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party. He is the author of the best-selling book Race Against Time, holds 28 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and is a Companion of the Order of Canada.
His work continues. Mr. Lewis, through his advocacy group AIDS-Free World, is spearheading an effort to bring to justice perpetrators of politically motivated sexual violence in Zimbabwe. International human-rights lawyers enlisted Mr. Lewis collected the testimony of women who survived gang rapes by leaders in Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party after the Zimbabwean President lost the first round of presidential elections in March.
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