Michaelle Jean and Her Trip to Afghanistan

Michaelle Jean is the third and last female governor general of Canada who just ended her term in October 2010. She is a journalist and stateswoman and former refugee from Haiti.

Michaelle and the women in her family suffered abuse at the hands of her father. Michaelle Jean had conducted a study on spousal abuse while she was still in university. She also worked in a women's shelter after she finished her studies.

Acting commander-in-chief

Jean's first assignment as commander-in-chief was to be present at the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge held in France. Unfortunately, she came back to Canada just as the bodies of six fallen Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan arrived at Trenton, Ontario.

Michaelle Jean wanted to visit the Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, but her trip was delayed on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, because the trip would be dangerous. She finally made the trip on March 8, 2007 and on the very day she arrived in Kabul, two separate attacks on Canadians soldiers took place.

International Women's Day

Michaëlle Jean's trip to Afghanistan was planned to coincide with International Women's Day. She stated, "the women of Afghanistan may face the most unbearable conditions, but they never stop fighting for survival. Of course, we, the rest of the women around the world, took too long to hear the cries of our Afghan sisters, but I am here to tell them that they are no longer alone. And neither are the people of Afghanistan."

Not only did she meet with the Canadian soldiers, she met with Afghan women, Royal Canadian Mounted Police teams, diplomats and humanitarian groups while she was present in Afghanistan.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micha%C3%ABlle_Jean

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2010/09/29/f-michaelle-jean-bio.html

http://www.conservative.ca/EN/news_releases/statement_from_stephen_harper_on_the_appointment_of_new_governor_general/

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20050811/gg_sovereignty_050811/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2005/08/12/jean-sovereignty050812.html

http://www.canada.com/national/features/governor_general/story.html?id=78549c49-781f-43c0-908d-20f24db2ca5a

http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4728

http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4994