International Day of the Girl 2025
The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis
Observed annually on 11 October, International Day of the Girl is a key global moment on which to celebrate girls everywhere, amplifying their voices, actions and leadership. It is a day that belongs to everyone who cares about girls and their rights. On this day, we come together to recognize and advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights.
This year’s theme, as shaped by girl-led organizations and networks, is The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis.
Why girls’ rights matter now more than ever
Being a girl shouldn’t determine what you can do, where you can go or who you can become. But right now, that's the reality for millions of girls across the world. Too many are being left behind – confronted by extreme challenges that deny girls their rights, restrict their choices and limit their futures.
Despite the progress made in adolescent girls’ lives over the past thirty years, their rights are still being violated in places all over the world.
The facts
- Girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely as boys to not be in education, employment or training. In fragile contexts, they're nearly 90% more likely to be out of school than girls in stable settings.
- Nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 who have ever been in a relationship have experienced intimate partner violence.
- 1 in 5 young women aged 20-24 were married as children. In fragile settings, child marriage rates are almost double the global average.
- Crisis, conflict and displacement all increase the risk of child marriage, sexual violence and maternal mortality for girls.
- In the last 20 years, self-harm has been a leading cause of death among adolescent girls.
Yet change is within reach. There are proven solutions for accelerating progress towards a future in which every girl has the healthcare, education, skills, safety and opportunities she needs to succeed. Investing in girls is one of the smartest actions we can take, with high returns for girls, their communities and entire economies.
The girl I am, the change I lead
This year’s theme calls for recognition of girls’ leadership in the face of multiple crises.
All over the world, girls are stepping up to meet today’s biggest challenges. They're organizing in their communities, fighting for climate justice and demanding an end to violence. Girls are asking to be seen not only for the challenges they face, but for who they are and the solutions they bring. Yet, too often their voices go unheard, their actions ignored, their needs and rights pushed aside.
As we mark thirty years since the Beijing Declaration – the world’s blueprint for gender equality – International Day of the Girl is a rallying cry to see girls for their limitless potential.
Call to action
Despite the challenges they face, girls are already leading the way in calling for change, finding solutions and demanding their rights.
Around the world, UNICEF is partnering with girl-led groups and networks to work towards a world where girls’ voices are not only heard, but acted upon – in policymaking, programming and humanitarian response. When girls are included, everyone gains.
This International Day of the Girl, stand with girls and support their leadership. Your voice matters too.
- Share girls’ stories. Celebrate their achievements and amplify their voices.
- Advocate for change. Call for policies that protect girls’ rights and enable their leadership.
- Create girl-led spaces. Wherever you have influence, support safe spaces where girls can connect, learn and get the support they need.
- Lend your voice. Call for dedicated funding and programmes that meet the unique needs of girls in crisis situations, including health, education, mental well-being and support for adolescent mothers.