International Day of the Girl Child 2026 is on Sunday

About International Day of the Girl Child

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses on girls under 18 and the barriers they meet because of both their age and their gender. Common themes include education, health, safety, digital skills, leadership and ending child marriage. Girls and girl-led groups help shape each year's theme through consultations organized by UN partners.

On December 19, 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 66/170, declaring October 11 the International Day of the Girl Child. The first observance, in 2012, focused on ending child marriage, and the 2026 theme returned to that issue with a call to invest in girls' rights. UN agencies including UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women lead much of the work around the day.

The day builds on the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which the UN describes as the first such global plan to call out girls' rights specifically, and on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, whose goals include gender equality and quality education for all. Many organizations shorten the name to International Day of the Girl or simply Day of the Girl.

Sources: United Nations: International Day of the Girl Child, UN Women: International Day of the Girl Child 2012. How we check dates.

How to mark International Day of the Girl Child

• Ask a girl in your life what she wants to learn or try next, and help her take one step toward it.
• Support an organization that keeps girls in school, funds scholarships or works to end child marriage.
• Invite a woman who works in science, the skilled trades, sports or politics to speak to a class or youth group.
• Look at how girls and boys are treated in your local sports leagues, clubs or classrooms, and raise any gaps you notice.
• Read and share writing, art or research made by girls and girl-led groups.

International Day of the Girl Child dates