RIP Malalai Kakar

Unfortunately, when it comes to media reports about conflict zones we rarely hear about women and girls being powerful agents of change in their countries (despite the fact that this is, of course, happening!). Instead, we're bombarded with the same old images of female victims and the dire circumstances of their lives.

That's why I was stoked to find this inspiring article in Marie Claire back in 2006 about Afghanistan's top female cop, Malalai Kakar. (Finally, an empowering story!) Despite constant death threats Ms. Kakar bravely went to work each morning and made Afghanistan a safer place for women by investigating gender-based violence, which is rampant in the country. She famously rescued a woman who had been chained up in a cage by her husband for 10 months, and brought the abuser to justice. I always remembered this article and even did a little bit of research about Ms. Kakar and pitched a story to CBS' 60 Minutes about her.

So I was devastated to hear that Ms. Kakar was assassinated earlier today by Taliban fighters. Not only is it a tragic loss for Afghan citizens, but it is a setback for women worldwide and a reminder of the challenges that we still face. My heart goes out to her family and friends.

Sorry to get started with a bit of a downer, but I just had to post something about this brave woman...

xo, jessalynn