Madeleine Albright, who was first woman to be elected secretary of U.S. State, has died, according to her family in a statement. She was 84.

According to her family, she succumbed to cancer.

We have lost our loving mother, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and friends,” it said. “A tireless champion for democracy and human rights,” it added.

After Bill Clinton was inaugurated, in 1993, Albright was named U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. He then nominated Albright as Secretary of State three years later. The post was held for four years and she actively promoted NATO expansion as well as military intervention in Kosovo.

Barack Obama was the President of the USA in 2012 awarded Albright the Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.