UN Women Lauds Newly-elected Women in US Midterm Elections

In a statement released Thursday, the U.N. Women agency congratulated the women who participated in Tuesday's 2018 U.S. midterm elections. "Their historic victories indicate the rising voice and leadership of women," stated the U.N. agency leading the fight against gender inequality.

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"Women’s political participation across the world is a vital human right and critical for the achievement of gender equality and sustainable development," noted the statement from U.N. Women.

The statement highlighted and congratulated the women, from both parties, who ran in the elections, "as well as unprecedented levels of candidates and winners who represented all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, backgrounds and cultures."

The U.N. Women agency highlighted the diversity among the candidates, that is "unprecedented, with a 75 percent increment of increase in women of color — including Black, Hispanic and Native American — who ran for Congress."

The right to be included in decision-making circles is neither a concession nor a favor since women have earned their space by struggling for many years against patriarchy. U.N. Women asserts this is beneficial for society because "with more women in decision-making positions in many countries, we see more inclusive decisions, and we find different solutions to long-standing problems."

"Issues like health, education, infrastructure, ending violence against women, and overall quality of life concerns are paid greater attention; there is an impact on the efficiency of oversight functions, and a reduction in corruption. More importantly, when girls growing up can see women in leadership roles, it raises their educational attainment and career aspirations," the statement highlighted.

The agency also made sure to remind countries of the world of the agreement to which they were signatories: the 20130 Agenda for Sustainable Development "with a specific target of ensuring women’s effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life."

These agreements were made so nobody would be left behind, and to ensure better living conditions for everybody. "These are deeply desirable patterns of growth and change. This is key to unlocking the transformational change we want to see to improve societies everywhere and build a safer, more equal and prosperous world."