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Clinton Pays Tribute to Stephen Lewis, Others Who Devote Lives to AIDS Fight

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 15:01 CDT

TORONTO (CP) - Former U.S. president Bill Clinton paid tribute Tuesday to Stephen Lewis, the UN special envoy on AIDS, and all the others who have joined in the battle against HIV/AIDS around the world.

In a moving address to the International AIDS Conference, Clinton said the world and the people at the conference owe Lewis a debt of gratitude for his passion and no-nonsense approach.

"I always love sharing the stage with Stephen Lewis, although he is a hard act to follow," Clinton said after Lewis eloquently introduced him. "I thank him for a lifetime of public service."

Clinton said those attending the conference need to learn from each other, and leave smarter and much more dedicated.

"I think maybe the most important thing I can do today is to simply thank all of you who are devoting your lives to this fight, who feel the plight of others, and find freedom in their release."

Prevention programs can help the world make progress against the disease, he said.

"Empowering women to protect themselves seems so elemental, and yet when I hear people pontificating against AIDS and acting as if we can do everything through abstinence, I think they don't know what most women are up against in too many parts of the world today," Clinton said, receiving an enthusiastic burst of applause.

He also spoke of promising research into male circumcision in reducing risk of HIV transmission.

"I know the scientific jury is still out. I know a couple more studies are being done. But should this be shown to be effective, we will have another means to prevent the spread of the disease and to save lives," he said.

"And we will have another job to do, a big job, first in selling it, and secondly in providing safe effective comprehensive and rapid way of doing it."

Delegates should be prepared for a green light that will have a "staggering" impact on the population, but will be "frankly, a lot of trouble to get done."

The AIDS conference has attracted more than 24,000 delegates from around the world, and continues until Friday.

Source: Canadian Press

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