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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 鈥� a 41-year-old mother of two young children 鈥� 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 鈥� who is also President of sa国际传媒, the children鈥檚 charity behind A World at School 鈥� said: 鈥淚 am heartbroken.

鈥淛o 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.听

鈥淛o cared about everybody but she reserved a special place in her heart for the most vulnerable and the poorest citizens of the world.

Jo鈥檚 Twitter profile picture showed her outside Parliament

鈥淪he 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.

鈥淏ut, above all else, Jo had utter devotion to her husband Brendan and their two children Cuillin and Lejla.鈥�

Jo died after being shot and stabbed during the attack today in Birstall, West Yorkshire. She was holding her weekly 鈥渟urgery鈥�, 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: 鈥淛o 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.

鈥淪he would have wanted two things above all else to happen now 鈥� 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鈥檛 have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous.

鈥淛o would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full.鈥�

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: 鈥淥ur memories will be forever scarred by this moment. Our hearts will always be hurt at our country鈥檚 loss.

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

鈥淛o 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.

鈥淵ears of public service, advancing the causes she cared passionately about, should have been ahead of her.

鈥淪arah 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.听

鈥淪he 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.

鈥淢y and Sarah鈥檚 thoughts and prayers are with Brendan and their two young children Cuillin and Lejla this evening听 They will have all our support in the difficult days ahead.

鈥淔or them and for those of us who were Jo鈥檚 friends, this is a devastating day. And it is a devastating blow to our democracy.鈥�

A tribute was also paid by Gabrielle Giffords 鈥� 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.

鈥� Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords)

Mark Goldring, the Chief Executive of Oxfam Great Britain, reflected the feelings of Jo鈥檚 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

鈥� Mark Goldring (@Mark_Goldring1)

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

Jo was elected as MP for Batley and Spen at last year鈥檚 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鈥檚 Network.