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 hiker walks in the Zillertal Alps during an autumn day near the village of Ginzling, Austria, October 15, 2019. (Photo by Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

“Oak Sunrise” by professional photographer Alan Price has won the International Garden Photographer of the Year, “Celebrating Our Oaks” competition, run in partnership with Action Oak. Action Oak is a campaign to protect the UK’s oak trees from threats including pests and diseases. (Photo by Alan Price/IGOTY)

MTV's “Ex On The Beach” star Jemma Lucy gives her neighbours an eyeful as she takes her bins out in her underwear in Manchester, UK on August 22, 2016. Jemma Lucy is well known in UK for her love of flashing more than a little bit of flesh on a night out. But the reality star took things a step further this week as she took out the bins wearing nothing but her bra and knickers. (Photo by XposurePhotos.com)

Katie Loynes of the Blues attempts to mark the ball during the AFLW Preliminary Final match between the Carlton Blues and the Fremantle Dockers at Ikon Park on March 23, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

A participant marches during the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade, celebrating advances in LGBTQ+ rights and calling for marriage equality, in Tokyo, Japan on April 21, 2024. (Photo by Issei Kato/Reuters)

Jackie Leek takes her giant pet tortoise — an eight-year-old African sulcata called Mr Miyagi — on his regular walk to the Crossing Pub in Morecambe, UK on September 25, 2024. Mr Miyagi, who weighs about three stone and will eventually reach ten, also enjoys caravanning holidays. (Photo by William Lailey/South West News Service)

Harris & Ewing Inc. photographed people, events, and architecture, particularly in Washington, D.C., during the period 1905-1945. Photo: Tests of Curtiss Palne for Army, Single Control. Created by Harris & Ewing. Published in 1912.