The Invasion. A quiet street in Macau. Modernization around is quickly changing the city, as documented by Paul Tsui. (Photo by Paul Tsui/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest)

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)

Revelers take part in SantaCon in New York City, U.S., December 10, 2022. (Photo by David “Dee” Delgado/Reuters)

Horse archery competitor Kimberley Robertson with her horse Chiko at her home in Hirstglen, Queensland, Australia on April 9, 2024. (Photo by Aston Brown/The Guardian)

Wednesday March 8 marks International Women's Day, with festivals, concerts and exhibitions among the numerous events planned around the world to celebrate the achievements of women in society. The annual event has been held since the early 1900s and traditionally promotes a different theme each year, with this year's edition calling on people to #BeBoldForChange and push for a more gender-inclusive working world. Reuters photographers have been speaking with women in a range of professions around the world about their experiences of gender inequality. Here: Yolaina Chavez Talavera, 31, a firefighter, poses for a photograph in front of a truck at a fire station in Managua, Nicaragua, February 22, 2017. (Photo by Oswaldo Rivas/Reuters)

People attend a Halloween event at Ocean Park on October 30, 2015 in Hong Kong. Halloween – a named taken from 'All Hallows' Even' falls on the day before All Saints' Day on November 1 – a holiday when Christians remember their deceased loved ones. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

Members of the Oath Keepers and general public return fire during a simulated attack as they take part in a tactical training session in northern Idaho, U.S. October 1, 2016. In April 2015 Reuters photographer Jim Urquhart was assigned to cover the Oath Keepers during a tour of the Sugar Pine gold mine in Oregon after the group of former cops, military, firefighters and other first responders had risen to prominence during a standoff in Nevada over land rights. (Photo by Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

The cold doesn't seem to be a problem for these women who dance on December 02, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. From Friday at 6pm licensed pubs, cafes and restaurants in Wales will have to stop serving alcohol and close at 6pm every day until further notice. The regulations will be reviewed on 17 December. The rules follow a firebreak period which started on October 23 and ended on November 9 which saw all non-essential shops close. (Photo by Huw Evans Picture Agency/The Sun)