In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

UNFPA works to protect the health and rights of adolescent girls through comprehensive sexuality education; access to sexual and reproductive health counseling, information, and services; and through encouraging girls' empowerment and participation in decisions affecting them. UNFPA also works with boys and men to advance gender equality and to encourage the abandonment of harmful stereotypes, embrace respectful and healthy relationships, and support for the human rights of all people, everywhere.

The theme of this year's Day of the Girl Child is The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030. This year, the world is assessing progress that has been made in securing girls' rights since the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals and looking to the future, to the deadline for achieving the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals. These new goals call for promoting gender equality and eliminating violence against girls and women at all levels. 

See the UNFPA Executive Director's statement on what the world must do to realize the potential of all girls.

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