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 member of the riot police gets ready to repel the attacks of protesters during a protest against President Sebastian Piñera during the seventh day of protests against President Sebastian Piñera on October 24, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. Although President Sebastian Piñera announced measures to improve equality, unions called for a national strike and demonstrations continue as casualties are now at least 18. Demands behind the protest include issues like health care, pension system, privatization of water, public transport, education, social mobility and corruption. (Photo by Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images)

SpaceX crews prep the Starship SN8 for its second test engine firing in Boca Chica, TX. on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. SpaceX will try Thursday with 2 engines to be the first ever static fire test to use the LOX header tank. (Photo by Gene Blevins/ZUMA Wire/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Waves to the height of 10m reaching 20-30m at the point of impact smashed against the coastline of the idyllic coastal city of Saint Malo, France on April 10, 2024. The extreme tidal waves were the result of Storm Pierrick. (Photo by Mathieu Rivrin/Solent News & Photo Agency)

A tiger is depicted on the helmet of Italy's Federica Brignone at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Championships super G, in Meribel, France, Wednesday, February 8, 2023. (Photo by Marco Trovati/AP Photo)

A Snowboarder participates in a waterslide contest, which consists of gliding over a water pool embedded in snow, during the closing event of the ski resort of Nendaz, southwestern Switzerland, Monday, April 21, 2014. (Photo by Maxime Schmid/AP Photo/Keystone)

A girl carries a rifle as she attends a rally by followers of the Shi'ite Houthi movement commemorating the death of Imam Zaid bin Ali in Sanaa, Yemen October 26, 2016. (Photo by Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

A duck swims in a Osterbekkanal during a the rainy autumn afternoon, central Hamburg, Germany 20 November 2017. (Photo by Srdjan Suki/EPA/EFE)