International Day of the Girl

Who’s shaping tomorrow?  Girls—visionaries and innovators—yet barriers to education, tech, and equality hold them back. “Girls’ Vision for the Future” demands we amplify their voices for a fair, green world. The WMO’s with them: boosting STEM access, delivering climate tools for resilience, and championing their leadership. Girls aren’t just the future—they’re the now. Let’s invest in their dreams for all.

‎This father-daughter moment is actually ... homework. Alexander Jesus González Rodríguez and his daughter Yefreannys Isamar Muñoz López of Venezuela work on math equations near the Paso del Norte Bridge between the United States and Mexico. In this 2023 photograph, they were waiting for an appointment with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection representatives. From the slight smile on Yefreannys Isamar Muñoz López's face, it might be a surprise to learn that she is working on math equations with her dad. The photo was made after they had trekked hundreds of miles from Venezuela to the United States-Mexico border, awaiting their immigration appointment. Yefreannys is one of many girls whom Danielle Villasana has met as a photojournalist working around the world over the last decade, capturing images that show how girls and young women persist in spite of the issues and inequalities they face. Villasana remembers: "She was just so happy, so full of joy, not complaining, not up...

Guterres: "Every girl, everywhere, deserves equality, opportunity, and dignity. On this International Day, let us recommit to building a better world for girls. As global crises intensify, it is often girls who bear the heaviest burden. In his message for the International Day of the Girl Child, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the disproportionate impact of conflict, climate disasters, and displacement on girls. “Child marriage in fragile settings is nearly twice the global average,” he noted, urging leaders to prioritize girls’ rights and invest in their futures. At UN Headquarters in New York, girls took over the ECOSOC Chamber to share their stories and demands under the theme “We are Here: Bold, Diverse, and Unstoppable.” Messages of solidarity were extended to girls in Afghanistan and other regions where rights are restricted. Nafisa from Ghana spoke of a friend forced to leave school due to conflict, yet determined to keep learning. “Girls are strong. Girl...

  Today we celebrate & acknowledge all the strong girls around the world who are fighting for what's right. Together we can support girls, share their stories, support their leadership, and level the playing field. Happy International Day of the Girl!

  Alongside senior officials from the UN community, they commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child through declarations, dialogue and a show of solidarity for their peers in Afghanistan and elsewhere, whose voices have been silenced. Nafisa from Ghana, 16, spoke up for girls “whose dreams are shaken by crisis”, such as a friend in a nearby village who had to leave school after conflict erupted, but joined a study group to continue learning. “Her story reminds us girls are strong, girls are determined, girls never give up,” she said in a video message. A world where girls can lead The International Day is held annually on 11 October, and the event gave life to this year’s theme We are Here: Bold, Diverse, and Unstoppable – Demanding Action for Girls’ Rights. Parents, chaperones and mentors were encouraged to sit in red chairs at the back of the room as “virtual moderator” Andrea in Bolivia welcomed attendees, who were urged to only use their first names as a safeguard. “...

  Good morning, everybody. And I must say, Wow. What a room. I mean from this side, I can see all your faces, your beautiful dressings here. This is all so special. If you’re in a room full of women or girls, it’s so powerful and colorful. So what Andrea just said–this is your space. This is your room. So be like a girl. You don’t have to be sitting like this, like adult, 50-year-old ones, but really take your power and take your pride. And I have to confess something at the beginning, because I really hesitated to take part in this event today, not because I am not an advocate for women and girls’ rights; I am, fiercely so. But because this event is called “Girls Speak Out,” and I’m certainly not a girl anymore. I’m 44 years old. I have two teenagers, daughters. They could sit here, and sometimes they feel embarrassed about their mother. And as I heard from the beginning, moderator, I should sit up there in the red chairs. But anyway, I’m thankful that I’m being invited to your g...

The discussion will focus on key issues affecting girls, such as their participation in social and political life, their education, eliminating all forms of violence and discrimination against them, championing their leadership in the climate crisis, and financing for the realization of their rights. As we commemorate International Day of the Girl (IDG) 2025, we affirm that progress for girls must be led by girls. Under the theme: " We are here: Bold, Diverse, and Unstoppable - Demanding Action for Girls' Rights ," this year's Girls Speak Out will highlight both the challenges girls face and the leadership, resilience, and solutions they bring forward . Hosted by the Working Group on Girls (WGG) and global partners, this 2-hour advocacy focused event is co-designed and co-led by girls. It brings together girl leaders, Member States, UN agencies, and civil society actors in a hybrid, intergenerational dialogue grounded in shared accountability and transformative ac...