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

Stephen Lewis signs autographs after the closing ceremonies of the World Aids Conference in Toronto in 2006. Photograph: Aaron Harris/AP

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.