Eric Hoskins
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Dr. Eric William Hoskins, MD, MSc, DPHil, FRCPC, MSC, LLD, O.C. is the President of War Child Canada.
Born in Simcoe, Ontario, Eric Hoskins is a medical doctor who has dedicated his life to working as a physician in war zones. He has worked extensively with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in some of the world's most heavily affected conflict areas including Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Burundi, Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a result of his extensive experience, Eric has become one of the leading experts both in Canada and internationally on various humanitarian-related issues.
A graduate of McMaster University's Medical School at age 23, he earned a Rhodes scholarship and continued his studies at the University of Oxford where he completed a Doctorate in public health and epidemiology. Dr. Hoskins also holds graduate level degrees from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, The University of Aberdeen, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
His work has taken him the world over with the sole intention of helping children affected by war.
In 1991 he co-founded the International Study Team, and led a group of over 90 international experts to examine the impact of war on the civilian population in Iraq. The results of his study, supported by UNICEF and Oxfam,remains to date the most detailed humanitarian assessment of post-Gulf War Iraq, and one of the most comprehensive analyses of the impact of conflict on a society ever undertaken. His efforts did not stop there. Having seen the impact of war on Iraqi children he successfully lobbied the Canadian government to release over 2 million dollars of frozen Iraqi assets held in Canadian banks, and spent the following two years overseeing the purchase and distribution of food and medicine to tens of thousands of at-risk Iraqi children.
At the age of 33, Eric became the youngest recipient of the United Nations Association in Canada's Lester B. Pearson Peace Medal and was later awarded the Governor General's Meritorious Service Cross for his work in war-torn communities around the world.
In 1997 Eric was asked to join the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, as his Senior Policy Advisor. While in Foreign Affairs he was responsible for Canadian foreign policy in the areas of human rights, human security, humanitarian affairs, peacebuilding, war-affected children and Africa. He later also served as an Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations, and has been extensively involved in setting United Nations policy on issues concerning the protection of children living with war.
Currently Eric is the Co-founder and President of War Child Canada (where he works with his wife and fellow humanitarian, Dr. Samantha Nutt), a multimillion-dollar Canadian charitable organization that works to raise urgently needed funds for relief and development programs in support of war-affected children around the world. Over recent years, the organization has pioneered new and exciting ways to support overseas projects that have benefited thousands of war-affected children and their families in all regions of the world. Nationally, the organization has designed innovative outreach programs that actively engage Canadian youth on international issues, fostering their participation and increasing public awareness in these critical areas. War Child Canada has been fundamental in shaping the views and attitudes of Canada's future generations.
In addition to receiving the United Nations Association in Canada's Lester B. Pearson Peace Medal and the Governor General's Meritorious Service Cross, Dr Eric Hoskins has been awarded the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Citation for Citizenship, Canada's Top 40 Under 40 Award (Globe and Mail, Report on Business), and a McMaster University Distinguished Alumni Award. He is also a frequent contributor to Maclean's magazine on war-related issues. He is a regular expert guest on CTV, CBC (radio and television) and many other major broadcast networks concerning the impact of war on civilians. Dr Eric Hoskins and his wife, Dr Samantha Nutt, received Honorary Doctorates of Law from McMaster University in May, 2005 for their work promoting human rights and their role in delivering humanitarian assistance on behalf of all Canadians to some of the world's most vulnerable populations.
In February of 2007 the Governor General announced that Dr. Hoskins is to receive the title of Officer of the Order of Canada for his service to humanity.
Hoskins is currently seeking the Liberal nomination in the riding of Haldimand—Norfolk for the next federal election.[1]
