Girls in South Bopal, India (Photo: VNA)

In a statement marking the day, the United Nations said that the world's 1.1 billion girls are a source of power, energy, and creativity. Girls deserve a better educations, better survival rate, better protection from child marriages and sexual assault, and better health services.

WHO Director-General Tedros Ashanom Ghebreyesus said that eliminating gender stereotypes plays a crucial role in improving health and preventing diseases for girls. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said no society will flourish and no peace agreement will be lasting without empowering girls in peace-building and reconstruction. She said it is time to put this imperative at the heart of all efforts to address fragility, conflict, and violence.