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)

Russian cadet preparing before the International Kremlin Cadet Ball in Moscow, Russia 12 December 2017. More than 1500 students from all Russian cadets school attend in Cadet Ball. (Photo by Yuri Kochetkov/EPA/EFE)

A kite flying contest is held in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu featuring various kites of different shapes on December 20, 2017. (Photo by SIPA Asia/Pacific Press/Barcroft Images)

An employee of the National Park Service takes a selfie with President Barack Obama, left, in the background meeting with the crowd after a tour of Everglades National Park on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, in Florida. Obama used the visit to warn of the damage that climate change is already inflicting on the nation's environmental treasures. (Photo by Lynne Sladky/AP Photo)

Ariel Almiron and Alumine Deluchi compete in the final round of the Tango World Championship stage category, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, September 25, 2021. (Photo by Natacha Pisarenko/AP Photo)

A view of the wheel of the car of First place British driver Lando Norris of McLaren F1 Team after the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 22 September 2024. (Photo by Tom White/EPA)

People take pictures with cherry blossoms in a park on March 23, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images)

In this handout image provided by Red Bull, Maria Paula Quintero of Colombia dives from the 20 metre balcony during the first competition day of the third stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on July 01, 2023 at Polignano a Mare, Italy. (Photo by Romina Amato/Red Bull via Getty Images)