On 11 October, the world marked International Day of the Girl, a day to celebrate and amplify the voices, actions, and leadership of girls everywhere.
This year’s theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” honoured girls who are leading change even in the most challenging circumstances. Across the world, girls are taking action, organising in their communities, speaking up for equality, and showing extraordinary courage. Yet too often, their voices go unheard and their rights overlooked.
The Facts[1]
- 133 million girls are out of school today.
- Girls aged 15–19 are twice as likely as boys to not be in education, employment, or training.
- Almost 4 in 10 adolescent girls and young women do not finish upper secondary school.
- Nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 who have ever been in a relationship have experienced intimate partner violence.
- 1 in 5 young women aged 20–24 were married as children. In fragile settings, child marriage rates are almost double the global average.
As we reflect on this day, we cannot forget girls growing up amid conflict and displacement. In Gaza and across Palestine, many girls face unimaginable hardships, with their right to safety, education, and play under constant threat[2]. Yet even there, girls continue to show resilience, creativity, and hope for peace[3].
At ICDI, we stand in solidarity with these girls. Through our N.I.C.O. Spaces (Nico’s Intergenerational Connection Outposts) project in Palestine, we create safe and welcoming spaces where children and older adults come together to share stories, games, food, and memories. In communities such as Shufat Refugee Camp and nearby villages, girls and boys take a leading role reviving traditional games, co-creating storytelling activities, and strengthening community ties. Read more about the project here.
As we reflect on this International Day of the Girl, we celebrate their courage and leadership and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every girl, and children in general, grows up in loving, safe, and supportive environments and has the opportunity to learn, play, and lead positive change in her community.
Read more about the International Day of the Girl:
Photos celebrate the glory of girls on ‘International Day of the Girl’: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/10/11/g-s1-92962/photos-celebrate-the-glory-of-girls-on-international-day-of-the-girl
Girls’ Speak Out – 2025 International Day of the Girl: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k12/k12x46voj1
International day of the Girl: let’s celebrate a girl who’s rewriting the future: https://www.savethechildren.net/news/international-day-girl-let%E2%80%99s-celebrate-girl-whos-rewriting-future
[1] UNICEF https://www.unicef.org/gender-equality/international-day-girl, Plan International https://plan-uk.org/international-day-of-the-girl and UN: https://www.un.org/en/observances/girl-child-day)
[2] What it means to be a woman in Gaza today: https://palestine.unwomen.org/en/stories/feature-story/2025/09/what-it-means-to-be-a-woman-in-gaza-today
[3] Gaza’s Girls Leading the Way to a Hopeful Future: https://palestine.unfpa.org/en/news/gazas-girls-leading-way-hopeful-future and Rising from the Ashes: Youth Resilience and Leadership in Gaza https://arabstates.unfpa.org/en/news/rising-ashes-youth-resilience-and-leadership-gaza
