International Day of the Girl Child 2026: theme and facts
Why in the news
The International Day of the Girl Child was observed on 11 October 2026 with the theme “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights”. Girls, girl-led networks, civil society and UN partners were consulted in shaping it.
Key facts
- Origin: UN General Assembly resolution 66/170 of 19 December 2011 named 11 October as the day.
- First observed: 11 October 2012.
- India: National Girl Child Day falls on 24 January.
Child marriage data (UNICEF)
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Girls married before 18 | About 1 in 5 |
| Girls married as children each year | More than 12 million (about one every three seconds) |
| Women and girls alive today married in childhood | About 650 million |
| Region with highest prevalence | Sub-Saharan Africa (31%) |
| Child marriages averted in the past 25 years | About 68 million |
About the day
Beyond marriage, UNICEF notes that girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely as boys to be out of education, employment or training, and that in fragile and conflict-hit settings girls are nearly 90% more likely to be out of secondary school.
Exam angle
- Date: 11 October; 2026 theme on ending child marriage.
- UNGA resolution 66/170 (2011); first observance 2012.
- Do not confuse with India’s National Girl Child Day (24 January).