Every October 11, the United Nations invites the global community to celebrate the International Day of the Girl. Since its creation in 2011, this day has highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of girls and empowering them to reach their full potential.
Persistent challenges
Despite progress, data reveals ongoing inequalities:
- 133 million girls are still out of school.
- Adolescent girls aged 15–19 are more likely than boys to be neither in school, employment, nor training.
- Nearly 4 in 10 girls do not complete secondary education.
- One in four adolescent girls aged 15–19 has already experienced intimate partner violence.
- More than one third of adolescents, both girls and boys, still believe domestic violence can be justified in some circumstances.
These figures remind us how often girls’ rights are still denied—and how urgent it is to act.
Theme 2025: Girls on the front lines of crises
The theme for 2025, “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead: Girls on the Front Lines of Crises,” was shaped through consultations with girls’ organizations, UN partners, and most importantly, with girls themselves.
“When girls lead the way, the impact is immediate and far-reaching: families, communities, and economies all grow stronger, and our shared future becomes brighter.”
Across the globe, girls are mobilizing to face today’s greatest challenges: they fight for climate justice, call out violence, reinvent their futures, and demand to be recognized not only for the obstacles they confront but also for the solutions they bring.
In 2025, this day resonates even more strongly as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a global reference point for gender equality. It is a call to see girls as they truly are, to listen to their voices, and to unleash their unlimited potential.
Because girls are not waiting for a better world—they are building it.
How to take action
Everyone can play a part in supporting girls and their leadership:
- Share their stories and celebrate their achievements.
- Advocate for policies that protect their rights and promote their leadership.
- Support safe, girl-led spaces where they can connect, learn, and thrive.
- Demand resources and programs that address their specific needs, including education, health, mental well-being, and support for adolescent mothers.
A call to solidarity
The International Day of the Girl is more than a symbolic date. It is an invitation to invest in girls, break down stereotypes, and build together a more just, equal, and hopeful world—for everyone.