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)

A riot police blocks a street during a march near a meeting attended by the Secretary-General of Organization of American State Luis Almagro and leaders from various communities in Managua, Nicaragua, December 1, 2016. (Photo by Oswaldo Rivas/Reuters)

Bikers push their motorbikes during a traffic block as they take part in the “Enduropale” motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 1, 2015. About 1100 motorbike and 600 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the racing endurance event. (Photo by Pascal Rossignol/Reuters)

Model friends Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Stella Maxwell and actress Kristen Stewart and are seen having dinner together in Milan, Italy on June 16, 2018. Bella and Kendall cheekily showed the camera middle finger while couple Stella and Kristen talked. (Photo by Splash News and Pictures)

Nice's Youcef Atal, left, and PSG's Juan Bernat challenge for the ball during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Nice at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Saturday, May 4, 2019. (Photo by Christophe Ena/AP Photo)

Members of the Knights Guard clean the ice during the Vegas Golden Knights' game against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on January 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Ducks 5-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty images/Profimedia)

An Afghan burqa-clad woman with children ride a donkey in Kishim district of Badakhshan province on October 12, 2023. (Photo by Omer Abrar/AFP Photo)

The pack of riders makes its way past Didi Senft, a cycling enthusiast better known as “El Diablo” (The Devil), during the twelfth 218km stage of the centenary Tour de France cycling race from Fougeres to Tours July 11, 2013. (Photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters)