Mothers have a day. Fathers have a day. Earth has its day. Even television has a special day recognized by the UN. But never have we set aside a day of observance to honor girls. Until today.

October 11th marks the first ever International Day of the Girl. The UN declared the day of observance in 2011 after girls lobbied to be included among the more than 100 days officially recognized by the UN. Today, the Women and Girls Lead campaign joins organizations worldwide in celebrating the girl leaders who challenge the status quo to better their communities, and we pause to shed light on the unique challenges girls experience when faced with both age and gender discrimination.

Our partner CARE is seizing the opportunity to bring attention to the issue of child marriage. Twenty-five thousand child marriages occur each day in countries around the world, affecting mostly girls from the poorest families. Girl brides are robbed of both their childhood and their future. They are more vulnerable to physical abuse, contracting HIV or other diseases, and dying while pregnant or giving birth. In addition, they are less likely to complete their education and access work opportunities that can break the cycle of poverty they were born into.

In the month leading up to the Day of the Girl, CARE has mobilized its supporters to take action to end child marriage using facts, quizzes, social media, and video. Learn how you can get involved in the campaign and learn the stories first hand by watching the Women and Girls Lead film I Was Worth 50 Sheep. Continue reading →