Stephen Lewis, Canadian politician and social activist, dies aged 88

Lewis was the father of Avi Lewis, who was elected leader of the progressive New Democratic party one day before his father died

Stephen Lewis, the Canadian diplomat, politician and human rights advocate, who spent decades tirelessly working to focus global attention on the HIV/Aids epidemic, has died of cancer.

Lewis, who served as the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, as well as the head of Ontario’s New Democratic party (NDP), was 88.