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Jo Cox in a picture tweeted today by her husband Brendan

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Tributes have been paid to Jo Cox, the tireless human rights campaigner and British Member of Parliament who died today after being attacked.

Jo �鶹APP� a 41-year-old mother of two young children �鶹APP� was an aid worker in developing countries who went on to become head of humanitarian campaigning at the charity Oxfam before she was elected as an MP.

She also campaigned against slavery, on behalf of refugees and for the rights of children and mothers.

She was a close adviser to Sarah Brown and they worked together on the Maternal Mortality Campaign with the White Ribbon Alliance.

Sarah �鶹APP� who is also President of �鶹APP, the children�鶹APP�s charity behind A World at School �鶹APP� said: �鶹APP�I am heartbroken.

�鶹APP�Jo had a truly remarkable spirit and passion that shone through in her work with Oxfam and with me on our countless campaigns for women and children.��

�鶹APP�Jo cared about everybody but she reserved a special place in her heart for the most vulnerable and the poorest citizens of the world.

Jo�鶹APP�s Twitter profile picture showed her outside Parliament

�鶹APP�She was fearless, she was endlessly upbeat and she reached out to so many to join her cause. Her mission was to make the world a better place.

�鶹APP�But, above all else, Jo had utter devotion to her husband Brendan and their two children Cuillin and Lejla.�鶹APP�

Jo died after being shot and stabbed during the attack today in Birstall, West Yorkshire. She was holding her weekly �鶹APP�surgery�鶹APP�, where she met constituents to discuss issues.

Her husband Brendan Cox is a former senior executive with the charity Save The Children. After the tragedy, he tweeted a picture of his wife standing beside the River Thames in London.

In a statement, he said: �鶹APP�Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy and a zest for life that would exhaust most people.

�鶹APP�She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now �鶹APP� one. that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn�鶹APP�t have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous.

�鶹APP�Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full.�鶹APP�

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: �鶹APP�Our memories will be forever scarred by this moment. Our hearts will always be hurt at our country�鶹APP�s loss.

With a Macmillan Cancer Support team in her constituency just days ago Picture: Facebook/Jo4BatleyandSpen

�鶹APP�Jo Cox was the most vivacious, personable, dynamic and committed friend you could ever have met. Whenever you talked to her, the compassion in her eyes and the commitment in her soul shone through.

�鶹APP�Years of public service, advancing the causes she cared passionately about, should have been ahead of her.

�鶹APP�Sarah and I were privileged to work with Jo and her husband Brendan over many years and in her tireless efforts on behalf of poor and desolate children and mothers.��

�鶹APP�She went to some of the most dangerous places in the world. The last place she should have been in danger was in her home town.

�鶹APP�My and Sarah�鶹APP�s thoughts and prayers are with Brendan and their two young children Cuillin and Lejla this evening�� They will have all our support in the difficult days ahead.

�鶹APP�For them and for those of us who were Jo�鶹APP�s friends, this is a devastating day. And it is a devastating blow to our democracy.�鶹APP�

A tribute was also paid by Gabrielle Giffords �鶹APP� the American congresswoman who survived being shot in the head while meeting constituents in Arizona in 2011.

Absolutely sickened to hear of the assassination of Jo Cox. She was young, courageous, and hardworking. A rising star, mother, and wife.

�鶹APP� Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords)

Mark Goldring, the Chief Executive of Oxfam Great Britain, reflected the feelings of Jo�鶹APP�s former colleagues and the wider humanitarian community.

All devastated at loss of our much loved and admired former colleague Cox MP. Deep condolences to Brendan

�鶹APP� Mark Goldring (@Mark_Goldring1)

Kevin Watkins, who will become chief executive of Save The Children UK in September, tweeted: �鶹APP�Jo Cox represented everything good in humanity �鶹APP� generosity of spirit, kindness + courage. The world is diminished without her.�鶹APP�

Jo was elected as MP for Batley and Spen at last year�鶹APP�s General Election and chaired the all-Parliamentary group for Friends of Syria.

She worked with Oxfam as Head of the EU Office, Head of Policy and Advocacy and then Head of Humanitarian Campaigning. She became Director of the Maternal Mortality Campaign in 2009 before moving into her consultancy and advisory roles.

She was also the founder of UK Women and chair of the Labour Women�鶹APP�s Network.