October 11 is International Day of the Girl aimed at recognizing girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

There are more than 600 million adolescent girls living in developing countries today. These girls are bright, talented and full of dreams, but are often unable to reach their full potential.

Many girls struggle for the opportunity to go to school, see a doctor or be included in their communities. This has serious consequences including: low levels of enrollment in school, high levels of child marriage and way too many girls facing health risks from pregnancy and early child birth.

The Girl Up (#GIRLHERO) campaign aims to celebrate girls everywhere. To join, post a photo on social media of a girl who inspires you, and tag her in the post. The girl you tag is then encouraged to pass it forward and post a photo of a girl who inspires her.

In 2014 the theme for the International Day of the Girl day is: Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence. It recognizes the importance of investing in and empowering girls during adolescence and preventing and eliminating the various forms of violence they experience.

Governments, the UN system, civil society and public and private institutions are being called on to join forces and reaffirm their commitment to end the scourge of violence against adolescent girls and to promote their empowerment.

Visit the UN International Day of the Girl website

Find out more about the #GIRHERO campaign: http://www.girlup.org/girlhero/