Today marks International day of The Girl (Child). This day is an international observance day created by the United Nations and serves to create more opportunities for girls and to increase awareness of gender inequality that girls face worldwide due to their gender. This includes inequality regarding the right to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and unfree child marriage.

The UN page regarding this day reads, “There are 1.1 billion girls today, a powerful constituency for shaping a sustainable world that’s better for everyone. They are brimming with talent and creativity. But their dreams and potential are often thwarted by discrimination, violence and lack of equal opportunities. There are glaring gaps in data and knowledge about the specific needs and challenges that girls face…On the International Day of the Girl Child, we stand with the global community to support girls’ progress everywhere. Let girls be girls.”

Here are 8 quotes to remind you why we need #DayOfTheGirl:

1.

“Every girl, no matter where she is born, should be able to express her views, live free of violence and discrimination, and have a fair chance to reach her full potential.”

— Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director, UN Women

2.

“To end the cycle of violence against adolescent girls, we must go beyond raising awareness and take action to equip girls with knowledge, skills, resources and power to determine their own path in life.”

— Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

3.

“Educating girls is one of the strongest ways not only to improve gender equality, but to promote healthy development of families, communities and nations.”

— World Bank

4.

“We cannot succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave- to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.”

— Malala Yousafzai

5.

“Girls’ education is crucial because when you educate one girl, you are educating the girls around her, her daughters, their daughters, and so on.”

— Rowan Blanchard

6.

“Girls are one of the most powerful forces for change in the world: when their rights are recognized, their needs are met, and their voices heard, they drive positive change in their families, their communities, and the world.”

— Kathy Calvin

7.

“Investing in girls’ education is the very best thing we can do, not just for our daughters and granddaughters, but for their families, their communities, and their counties.”

— Michelle Obama

8.

“When you educate a girl, you kick-start a cycle of success. It makes economic sense. It makes social sense. It makes moral sense. But, it seems, it’s not common sense yet.”

— Queen Rania of Jordan