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International Day of the Girl Child advocacy

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2026-10-13 17:53 UTC → 2026-10-13 21:34 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11, continues to focus on the theme ‘End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights’. Global data remains critical, with United Nations figures indicating that over 12 million girls enter marriage before age 18 annually—approximately every three seconds. While legal reforms and educational investments have helped prevent an estimated 68 million child marriages over the last 25 years, systemic challenges persist. In Sub-Saharan Africa, child marriage rates remain high at approximately 31 percent. In Serbia, 2025 data from the Republic Institute for Social Protection recorded 197 victims of child marriage, with girls comprising 96.43 percent of cases. Organizations such as SOS Children's Villages Serbia noted that poverty, unemployment, and gender norms often drive these practices. Humanitarian organizations have expanded warnings to include female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual violence. Over 230 million women and girls live with the consequences of FGM, with an additional 4.5 million expected to be exposed by 2026. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sexual violence is frequently used as a tool of war; in 2025, 1,534 victims of conflict-related sexual violence were recorded in the DRC, primarily in North and South Kivu. Globally, recorded cases of such violence reached 9,788 in 2025, which is more than double the figures from 2024. Climate change and educational barriers remain significant drivers of instability. Research from Plan International shows that 36% of surveyed girls reported increases in child marriage following climate shocks. Additionally, 133 million girls are currently out of school globally, including more than 2.4 million girls in Afghanistan who are denied secondary education. Following the 2026 observance, specific advocacy ~~campaigns~~ and commemorative activities have emerged. In Lesotho, the ‘Her Voice, Her Justice’ campaign is targeting child marriage, sexual violence, and exploitation.

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