Every girl should grow up free to imagine and shape her own future – to choose what she learns, what dreams she pursues, and who she wants to become.
Yet for millions of girls, that future is interrupted far too soon.
Globally, one in five girls is married before the age of 18. Every year, more than 12 million girls are married in childhood, roughly one every three seconds. Behind every statistic is a girl whose education, health, safety, choices, and future are put at risk.
Child marriage is preventable. And progress is possible. Over the past 25 years, investments in girls’ education, legal reform, and social protection have helped avert an estimated 68 million child marriages.
We know what works. What is needed now is the political will and sustained investment to reach every girl.
Investing in girls means more than protecting them from harm. It means keeping girls in school. Ensuring access to health, protection, and social services. Strengthening their voice and leadership. And supporting families and communities to stand behind girls’ choices.
On International Day of the Girl (11 October), we call on governments, partners, civil society, communities, and the private sector to turn commitments into action: enforce laws that protect girls; keep girls in school; expand access to essential services; challenge harmful norms; fund girl-led and women-led organizations; and ensure that solutions reach the girls most at risk, including those affected by poverty, conflict, displacement, disability, and crisis.
Invest in girls’ rights. End child marriage. Give every girl the freedom to choose her future.
