What Is International Day of the Girl?
International Day of the Girl is marked annually on October 11 to highlight the rights of girls and the challenges they face. It's a global moment to listen to their voices, celebrate their potential, and push for change on the barriers that stand in their way.
In 2026, we're looking beyond the most visible barriers to girls' education, such as distance to school. Scroll down to see how a simple document can determine whether a girl gets to attend school, pursue opportunities, and shape the future she dreams of.
International Day of the Girl 2026
When girls have equal access to education and opportunity, communities thrive.
But in some communities, a girl is denied both, not because she lacks potential but because she lacks a document that proves she exists.
This International Day of the Girl, discover the visible and invisible barriers keeping girls out of school and how Plan International is helping them access their rights and their education and determine their own future.
Because we, like you, believe that when girls thrive, we all do.
More than 137,000 children in Lanao del Sur, Philippines, do not have birth certificates, leaving many unable to enrol in school or access essential services. For families already struggling to make ends meet, the cost of registration can be out of reach.
Over the next five years, Plan International aims to register 8,000 children in two communities in Lanao del Sur, opening the door to education and opportunity.
With support from Plan programs and Canadian donors, 900 children in these communities have been registered and are expected to start school next term.
Who created International Day of the Girl?
International Day of the Girl began as a bold idea from Plan International’s Because I Am a Girl global campaign, a movement that showed the world why investing in girls matters.
Plan International Canada rallied thousands of supporters and the Canadian government to make this day a reality. On December 19, 2011 the UN passed a resolution to create an International Day of the Girl (IDG). The first International Day of the Girl was celebrated on October 11, 2012.
International Day of the Girl Toolkit
Download free International Day of the Girl activities to support young people in exploring global issues, amplifying their voices, and creating meaningful change.
Girls' education and identity
Latest Film: I Have a Name
What happens when a child doesn’t have a birth certificate?
Set in Lanao del Sur, Philippines, I Have a Name follows two mothers as they work to secure birth certificates for their children, a document many of us rarely think about but one that can open the door to education, protection, and opportunity. Through intimate, human-centred storytelling, the film explores the challenges families face when children go unregistered and why legal identity matters.
Watch their journey and discover why proof of identity can be the first step toward accessing opportunities to build a brighter future.
State of the World's Girls
Our annual global research report on girls' rights
New 2026 Research
Climate change is putting girls at greater risk.
The 2026 State of the World's Girls report reveals how droughts, floods, and extreme heat are disrupting girls' access to education, health care, and protection while also increasing risks like child marriage and gender-based violence.
Based on research in 52 countries and insights from 5,000 girls and young women, the report shows how climate crises deepen existing inequalities and threaten girls' futures.
But girls are also leading the call for change. Their message is clear: Climate action must put girls at the centre.
2025 research
2024 research
How communities partner with girls. And how you can too.
Plan International's Community Partnership with Girls supports locally led solutions shaped by the people who know their communities best. Girls, families, and community leaders work together to identify priorities and help create safer, healthier, and more supportive environments for children and young people.
Introducing the Global Girls' Rights Champion Award
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Chair of Plan International Canada's Board of Directors, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, actor and Plan International Canada Global Ambassador, are the first recipients of our Global Girls' Rights Champion Award, in recognition of Canadian leaders whose influence and action are advancing girls' rights and equality around the world.
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