International Day of the Girl 2026 calls for an end to child marriage and investment in girls' rights

11 October 2026

The International Day of the Girl was observed on 11 October 2026 with the theme of ending child marriage and investing in girls' rights. The UN said the theme was developed through consultations with girls, girls' organisations and girl-led networks. Each year more than 12 million girls, roughly one every three seconds, are married before reaching adulthood, with the highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa (31 per cent). An estimated 68 million child marriages have been averted over the past 25 years through investment in girls' education, legal reform and social protection. UN Women said one in five girls globally is married before the age of 18.