The first International Day of the Girl Child was on October 11, 2012, and focused on ending child marriage.(Freedom United)


The first International Day of the Girl Child was held on October 11, 2012, and focused on ending child marriage. Today, 11 years later, one in five marriages still involves a child bride.[1]  And children marrying are at greater risk of being coerced into forced child marriage, a form of modern slavery. The COVID-19 pandemic has made girls even more vulnerable to getting married against their will.