Participants wearing East Asian traditional costumes take photos during the 88th annual Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, Californi​a, USA, 01 December 2019. (Photo by Christian Monterrosa/EPA/EFE)

Iraqi security forces vehicles take part in a military parade in the streets of Baghdad, Iraq July 12, 2016. Social media activists posted images of tanks, armored vehicles, cannons, soldiers, police officers, and PMF members in Saadoun Street. The photos spiked a rumor of military coup. Military and security advisor and expert Lt. Diyaa al-Wakil said that it is only normal for such rumors to spread since there were no prior announcements about the training. (Photo by Khalid al Mousily/Reuters)

An elephant decorated with a cloth walk in the annual Perahera (street pageant) at Rajamaha viharaya Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka September 10, 2016. (Photo by Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)

The Founders' Award winner, Downey Rose Float Association “Exploring the Everglades” float, moves through 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California January 1, 2016. (Photo by David McNew/Reuters)

Dogs and their owners dressed in Halloween costumes parade during the annual Haute Dog Howl'oween event in Long Beach, California on October 30, 2016. The parade, which claims to be the largest Halloween dog event in the world, sees hundreds of dogs and their owners dressed in colorful costumes celebrating the festival. (Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP Photo)

A couple dressed as clowns stands near the beach during the Carnival Clown's Parade at Sesimbra village, Portugal on February 27, 2017. (Photo by Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP Photo)

An instructor from the Tianjiao Special Guard/Security Consultant Ltd. Co, smashes a bottle over a female recruit's head during a training session for China's first female bodyguards in Beijing January 13, 2012. (Photo by David Gray/Reuters)

As the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child, women's rights activists point to progress on a wide array of issues but say more needs to be done to protect girls from child marriage, sexual assault and other forms of exploitation. Here is a selection of pictures showing the daily lives of girls across the globe, all taken by female Associated Press photojournalists. Here: In this December 14, 2015, file photo, a young clown rides in the back of a car following a procession to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Hundreds belonging to various clown associations made their annual pilgrimage to the Basilica to pay their respects to the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint. (Photo by Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo)