Room: Michigan A and B
presented by Stephen Lewis, ,
Noted humanitarian, Stephen Lewis, will pick up where his general session left off, facilitating a dialogue about winning the battle against poverty and disease in the developing world. This session will give members of the IB community a chance to discuss issues and share ideas with Mr Lewis, covering a broad range of topics including issues relating to HIV/AIDS, economic development, international cooperation, and myriad topics in the realm of international politics and policies.
Stephen Lewis, ,
Stephen Lewis is one of Canada's most respected commentators on social affairs, international development and human rights. Maclean's chose him as their inaugural Canadian of the Year in 2003 and in 2005 TIME named him one of the 100 Most Influential People In The World (in the same category as The Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela). Mr Lewis is also the recipient of The Pearson Peace Medal for his outstanding achievements in the field of international service and understanding.
In 2001, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Mr Lewis as his Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. The Stephen Lewis Foundation, of which he is the director, is similarly dedicated to easing the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Mr Lewis is also currently a Commissioner for the World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health.
From 1995 to 1999, Mr Lewis was Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF at their global headquarters in New York, where he spoke and traveled regularly, acting as a spokesperson for UNICEF's passionate advocacy of the rights and needs of children, especially children of the developing world.
In 1997, Mr Lewis was appointed by the Organization of African Unity to a Panel of Eminent Personalities to Investigate the Genocide in Rwanda. The 'Rwanda Report' was issued in June of 2000. From 1984 through 1988, Mr Lewis was Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, where he chaired such groundbreaking committees as the Five-Year UN Programme on African Economic Recovery, and the first International Conference on Climate Change.
Mr Lewis, who is a noted radio and television commentator and race-relations arbitrator, holds 20 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and has been appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest honor for lifetime achievement.
