Reaffirming our collective commitment to ensuring that no girl is left behind

As the UNICEF Representative in Maldives, I am honored to join the global community in commemorating the International Day of the Girl – a day to celebrate girls’ rights, amplify their voices, and reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring that no girl is left behind. 

This year’s global theme “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis,” underscores the powerful role girls play in shaping their communities amid adversity. In places like Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine – where children continue to face grave violations of their rights – girls continue to rise with remarkable resilience and leadership. Whether navigating the devastation of war or the compounded challenges of economic crises and climate shocks, girls are not passive victims but active agents of change.  

Looking at Maldives, the country has made remarkable progress in advancing girls’ right to education, health, and protection. From achieving universal access to primary and secondary education with gender parity, to enacting strong legislations that advance and protect women and girls’ rights, we have a lot to celebrate.  

However, challenges remain:  

• Too many girls and young women still do not feel safe – at home, in schools, online, at work, or in their communities.
• Many continue to face pressures that affect their mental health and well-being, which range from economic hardship to restrictive gender norms.
• While girls often excel academically, fewer transition into leadership and decision-making roles.
• Young mothers still struggle to balance caregiving responsibilities with career aspirations, often at the cost of their professional growth and financial independence. 

These challenges continue to stand as barriers to achieving full gender equality. It is therefore critical that we build on the gains we have made while actively dismantling the barriers that still hold girls and young women back. 

At UNICEF, we have seen first-hand how powerful change can be when girls are given the space and support to advocate and lead. I have had the pleasure of meeting remarkable girls and young women from our Youth Reference Group and Climate Guardians – young leaders who continue to inspire and drive positive change in their communities and beyond.  

On this International Day of the Girl, UNICEF reaffirms its commitment to working with girls and young women, not merely for them. Their voices, perspectives, and leadership must guide the policies, programmes, and services that shape their futures – and the future of Maldives.  

As we celebrate this day, I call on boys and men to be allies in the journey toward gender equality; to listen, offer support, and stand with girls and young women as true partners in progress. I also call on our partners, the Government, civil society, and private sector alike, to invest in girls and work with us to build a future where every girl is safe, empowered, and equipped to lead.  

To girls across Maldives and around the world: your voice matters. Your leadership matters. Because the change you lead today shapes the future of our communities.