Statement: The girl I am, the change I lead – Girls on the frontlines of crisis

On this International Day of the Girl, we celebrate the courage and leadership of girls everywhere, especially those facing crisis and conflict. Girls like Sandra Patricia Aguilar Carabalí in northern Cauca, Colombia, are defying exclusion and leading efforts to protect land, peace, and their communities.

Thirty years after the Beijing Declaration, we reaffirm that investing in girls’ rights is both a moral duty and a strategic choice. Progress has been made: adolescent motherhood has nearly halved, child marriage has declined, and many countries have outlawed discrimination and violence while expanding access to education and health. These advances show what is possible when governments and communities commit to girls’ rights.