Girls

➡️ GIRL'S RIGHTS & EMPOWERMENT – Promoting Education, Social Rights, Safety & Self-Belief

Girls represent half the population of young people, and therefore half of the potential of all adolescents. Gender equality is normally associated with women, but it affects girls too, as unfortunately, discrimination begins at birth.

Approximately 133 million girls are out of school, a figure substantially higher than that for boys. Despite progress, girls around the world still do not have the same opportunities as boys.

Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in improving the lives of girls. Globally, we have witnessed increased access to education, better health outcomes, reduced rates of child marriage and improved legal protections.

Improvements, however, have been uneven, and some areas have even seen gains reversed. Additional challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, exposure to conflict, and digital violence, are further slowing progress.

"I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world" - Malala Yousafzai

Jump straight to our resources on ➡️ Girls

Explore our comprehensive guides on -

• Girl's Rights

• Youth & Children's Rights

• Girl Empowerment

• Girl's Right to Education

• Barriers to Girls' Education & Gender Disparities

• Education & School

• Teen Pregnancy

• Child Marriage

Key Challenges for Girls

Girls' rights are fundamental human rights, yet despite this, around the world, they are violated by gender norms, discriminatory laws, harmful traditions, and violence. Girls face barriers that boys don't, simply because of their gender.

• Roughly 12 million girls under 18 are married each year, the equivalent of nearly 1 in 5 girls.

• Over 230 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation.

• Nearly 1 in 4 married or partnered girls aged 15 - 19 have experienced intimate partner violence.

• In rural areas, 61% of girls do not attend secondary school.

• In low-income countries, 9 out of 10 adolescent girls lack internet access.

• Women and girls make up a disproportionate amount of the 44 million people forcibly displaced by conflict and climate change.

• The education of approximately 12.5 million girls was disrupted by climate disasters in 2025.

• A massive 71% of all human trafficking involves women and girls – mainly for sexual exploitation.

Girls' Rights

Achieving gender parity and the Sustainable Development Goals is impossible without prioritising the rights of girls. When girls are given the same opportunities as boys to learn, to be healthy, to be heard, the whole community benefits. We must not underestimate the power of girls.

Girls' rights include the right to education, safety and freedom from violence, body autonomy and access to healthcare, the right to self-determination, equal involvement in decision-making, and the removal of discriminatory practices which keep girls tied to household chores and care of siblings.

No country has achieved full gender equality. By the 2030 deadline, an estimated 351 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty. Some estimates show that it won't be achieved universally until the 22nd century. It could take nearly 300 years to close legal gaps.

The impact of educating girls cannot be stressed enough. When girls complete secondary education, rates of child marriage drop by 64%. They also earn, on average, 10-20% more for each additional year of schooling completed.

Countries with higher girls' secondary school enrolment rates experience lower maternal mortality, lower infant mortality, and stronger overall economic growth. A child whose mother can read is 50% more likely to live past age 5.

By respecting and protecting girls' rights, we give girls everywhere the opportunity to reach their potential and shape their own futures. Promoting and enforcing girls' rights is crucial for creating a more just, inclusive, and prosperous society.

International Day Of The Girl – October 11

This global initiative was established by the United Nations in 2012 to champion the rights and potential of girls everywhere and to raise awareness of the specific needs and challenges they face.

Day of the Girl is dedicated to protecting and promoting girls' rights, improving their educational opportunities, and combating gender-based violence. It highlights persistent inequalities and calls on the world to guarantee equal opportunities and rights for girls.

The day is also used to empower girls, encourage them to pursue their dreams and raise their voices for positive change. Girls now more than ever are stepping up to solve some of today's biggest challenges, such as climate change and violence against women and girls.

International Day of the Girl recognises that these issues persist year-round, and draws global attention to their plight, sparks conversations, and encourages policy change.

The Future Is Female

Girls' rights are not optional. Yet Sustainable Development Goal 5, Gender Equality, is failing.

Girls grow up to be women. Not only are they faced with insurmountable challenges in adolescence, but these challenges persist throughout their lives into womanhood. As adults, women face discrimination in the workplace, in legal protections, in property rights, and in access to leadership positions and government.

Within the humanitarian sector, gender-based violence is the least funded priority. Less than 2% of national climate plans mention girls at all, despite the known link between climate disasters and child marriage.

Young feminists cite a lack of financial resources as their top challenge.

It has been proven time and time again that protecting and uplifting girls benefits society as a whole, yet investment in girls is still seriously inadequate. We have a responsibility to close the funding gap, change discriminatory laws, and combat gender stereotypes in our communities.

Girls deserve the same opportunities, education, and career prospects as boys. This requires a collective effort from governments, organisations, communities, and individuals. Only through joint efforts can we create a future where girls can pursue their dreams and positively impact the world.

As the next generation, young people hold the key to shaping our future. We must ensure they are heard, supported, and given every opportunity to reach their full potential.

"Education turns a girl into a lighthouse in any storm, guiding the way for generations" - Global Partnership for Education

Author: Rachael Mellor, 17.03.26 licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

For further reading on Girls Rights see below ⬇️