The International Day of the Girl Child is observed every year on October 11, to celebrate  girls everywhere as they go on to inspire the world. Declared by the women’s arm of the United Nations, the day aims to amplify the voices of the girls by launching various campaigns.

“For this year’s International Day of the Girl, we’re coming together under the theme “GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable,” to celebrate all of the achievements by, with and for girls since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the passage of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990,” a statement on UN Women’s website reads.

Over the years, several celebrities have been working for girls around the world, helping them voice themselves. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Also Read | ‘My voice, our equal future’: Theme of International Day of the Girl demands attention

Emma Watson

A UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Emma Watson is known for speaking up for women. This includes the girl child as well. In 2016, Watson visited Malawi in east Africa, in a bid to create awareness about girl child marriages. The UN estimates that each year, 12 million girls under 18 are married, and Watson met them to encourage the girls voice their opinions.

Priyanka Chopra

As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Priyanka Chopra in 2018 joined a programme to support education of the girl child. “Let them raise their voices so they achieve their dreams. This #InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild, @YouTubeIndia, UNICEFIndia and I want to help little girls get an education to build a brighter, more secure future”, she had tweeted.

Anne Hathaway

The UN Women in 2016 had declared actor Anne Hathaway as its Global Ambassador, for her initiative towards the welfare of the girl child. Prior to this, she had travelled to several countries to create awareness about child marriage. 

Oprah Winfrey

American activist Oprah Winfrey is known for voicing her support for women. In 2007, she founded a boarding school for females, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, to support education for the girl child. Teaching children from grades 8 to 12, the school in South Africa aims to eradicate poverty through education.