UNAIDS is deeply saddened by the death of Stephen Lewis, an early and vocal champion of the AIDS response who passed away on 31 March 2026. UNAIDS expresses its sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Stephan Lewis was a strong supporter of the AIDS response and showed great leadership and courage in speaking out against HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the early days of the epidemic.

Stephen Lewis’s work with the United Nations spanned more than two decades. He was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from June 2001 until the end of 2006 and later established the Stephen Lewis Foundation in 2003, which remains focused on community organizations working on HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. He also served as a Commissioner on the Global Commission on HIV & the Law. 

He was bold, compassionate and tireless in confronting HIV-related stigma and discrimination from the early days of the epidemic and his contribution to the AIDS response will not be forgotten. 

Stephen Lewis devoted his life to advocating and drawing attention to the AIDS crisis and calling on leaders and the public to respond. 

His leadership championed the welfare of people living with HIV and supported communities to be meaningfully involved in the HIV response. It is thanks to leaders such as Stephan Lewis that today more than 31 million people globally have access to HIV treatment. 

What Stephen Lewis said in April of 2004 still holds true today “Surely the increasingly realistic prospect of prolonging and saving the lives of millions of men, women and children will galvanize the international community and open the vaults of compassion. If ever there was a test of human solidarity, that test is now.” 

UNAIDS pays tribute to Mr Lewis leadership and mourns the loss of a remarkable colleague and advocate. His legacy will live on through the work he advanced and the lives he impacted around the world.