Stephen Lewis Remembered
It is with great sadness that the members of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law mark the passing of our friend and colleague, Stephen Lewis, who left us on 31 March at the age of 88.
Stephen was a giant in the world of politics and international development. His passion for, and commitment to, social justice was an unbroken thread that wove through the tapestry of his career, from his time as leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party in his home country of Canada in the 1970s to his role as Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations in the 1980s and Deputy Director of UNICEF in the 1990s.
Stephen was an unwavering champion of the values of the UN and the rights of people living with HIV, key populations, women and children, as exemplified in his work as UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa in the early 2000s and as a member of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law a decade later. With his signature combination of acute moral clarity, pragmatism and fiery eloquence, Stephen worked tirelessly to dismantle the world’s indifference to AIDS in Africa and promote equitable access to HIV prevention and treatment tools and equality before the law.
Stephen’s work on HIV and global health continues through the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the many people he inspired and mentored.
It is with deep gratitude and admiration that we at the Global Commission on HIV and the Law remember Stephen’s fierce intelligence, deep compassion and complete fearlessness in speaking truth to power.
The example Stephen set is a beacon for us to follow as we navigate the headwinds challenging the global AIDS response and human rights. This is how we can continue his legacy.
Our profound condolences to his beloved family, friends and all who loved him.
The end of the global AIDS epidemic is within our reach. We must renew our commitment to respect human rights and end inequalities and injustice to ensure no one is left behind.
In just four decades, over 40.4 million people have died of AIDS, and 85.6 million have been infected with HIV. The HIV epidemic has become one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. It is also a crisis of law, human rights and social justice. The good news is that we now have all the evidence and tools we need to radically slow new HIV infections and stop HIV-related deaths. Paradoxically, this comes at a time when bad laws and other political obstacles are standing in the way of success.
The Global Commission on HIV and the Law undertook 18 months of extensive research, consultation, analysis and deliberation. Its sources included the testimony of more than 700 people most affected by HIV-related legal environments from 140 countries, in addition to expert submissions and the large body of scholarship on HIV, health and the law.
About the Commission
Accelerate Progress on the 10-10-10 Targets - Announcing the SCALE Initiative
In November 2022, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) announced a new partnership, the SCALE Initiative, to drive progress on the 10-10-10 targets for and with key populations in PEPFAR-supported countries by 2025. The two-year initiative helps scale key population-led approaches to counter punitive and discriminatory laws and HIV-related criminalization and remove barriers to HIV services, while investing in key population leadership and capacity. UNDP is committed to working with like minded partners to support countries and key populations in their efforts to address the harmful structures standing in the way of progress, to advocate for the dignity, health and wellbeing of key populations and to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Pathways to Change: 3 Lessons from Key Populations
Insights from the SCALE Initiative regional conversations on HIV, law and access
By Kevin Osborne, Manager, SCALE Initiative, UNDP
Updates
FIGHTING HIV AND INJUSTICE
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Background
Take a detailed look back at the development of the Commission and the groundbreaking report ‘HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights & Health.’
Report Implementation
Check out our new space dedicated to the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations around the world.
Resources
Stay informed using key resources pertaining to HIV and the Law. Browse our resource library of working papers, submissions, presentations and articles and speeches from Commissioners.