Zonta International celebrates 2025 International Day of the Girl

Dear Zontians, Partners and Friends,

On 11 October, Zonta International proudly joins the global community in celebrating the International Day of the Girl, one of Zonta’s four dedicated annual days of advocacy, aimed at highlighting the rights of girls and addressing the unique challenges they encounter worldwide.

This year's celebration is significant, as it underscores Zonta International's unwavering commitment to empowering girls by amplifying their voices and advocating fiercely for their rights to a quality education, access to environments safe from gender-based violence and climate inequalities and to be heard and respected as a full-fledged members of the communities. As Zontians, we come together as a unified force, raising awareness about these pressing issues and recognizing the vital need for action. Our goal is to ensure that every girl has the chance to realize her full potential and achieve her dreams without barriers.

While there has been significant headway in the past decade, with 50 million more girls enrolled in school and 5 million more girls completing each level of education, girls continue to face numerous barriers that inhibit their growth and development. These include limited access to education, where girls are twice as likely as boys their age (15-19) to not be in education. In fact, recent studies from UNESCO reported that about 122 million girls worldwide are denied access to education, and many live in unsafe conditions while facing harmful stereotypes that undermine their self-worth.

But there is hope and it lives in the actions of Zontians, as well as youth members of Z and Golden Z clubs. Across the globe we are actively engaged in initiatives and programs designed to dismantle these barriers and create a brighter future for girls everywhere. Through community service projects, advocacy efforts and collaboration with local organizations, we are dedicated to fostering environments where girls can thrive. When we invest in girls and provide them with more opportunities, we not only uplift individuals but also pave the way for a world where girls' and women’s rights are acknowledged and protected as fundamental human rights.

Together we are a force for lasting change.

I thank you all for what you are doing to not only give voice to the girls of the world but also for taking the time to hear what they have to say and then do more to build a better world for their future.

With gratitude and determination,
Salla Tuominen
President, 2024-2026
Zonta International and the Zonta Foundation for Women

10 OCTOBER 2025