Stephen Lewis

Stephen Lewis is Special Representative for UNICEF, a capacity in which he represents the agency in advocacy of the rights and needs of children in the developing world. In 1992, he took on a role with the Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Development as Special Advisor on the New UN Programme for Africa. In addition, he is Special Advisor on Race Relations to the Premier of Ontario.

From 1984 through 1988, Stephen Lewis was Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations. In this capacity, he chaired the Committee which drafted the Five-Year Programme on African Recovery. He also chaired the first International Conference on Climate Change which drafted the first comprehensive policy on global warming.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Stephen Lewis was an elected representative to the Ontario Legislature, becoming leader of the New Democratic Party. He holds 15 honourary degrees from Canadian universities and is a noted radio and television commentator and race relations arbitrator.