About 1.1 billion girls live in the world today, but not all live equally.

The United Nations observes Oct. 11 as International Day of the Girl Child in an effort to spread awareness about gender inequality worldwide and to empower young girls around the globe. Such inequalities include general discrimination, access to education, nutrition, medical care and forced child marriage.

This year’s theme – “EmPOWER girls: Before, during and after conflict” – centers on the challenges and barriers to progress that girls face internationally as a result of instability and inequality in their home nations. The statistics are striking.

9 Unsettling Facts About Child Marriage – U.S. News