The Day of the Girl is about highlighting, celebrating, discussing, and advancing girls lives and opportunities across the globe. When girls come together to talk about what really matters to them, they can teach other people–grownups, boys, girls all across the world–a new way of thinking about issues like gender stereotypes, discrimination, and opportunity.

Listen to U.S. Secretary of State Clinton and Archbishop Desmond Tutu  address a group of Girl Scouts in honor of the first-ever International Day of the Girl.

The campaign to establish the United Nations International Day of the Girl was led in the US by School Girls Unite, an organization of students and young women leaders determined to advance the UN Millennium Development Goals related to gender equality and universal basic education, and other human rights issues. Their mission mirrors the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the International Day of the Girl Child, approved on December 19, 2011:

“To help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.”

Click here to learn more about the International Day of the Girl and how you can get involved.