Here's What Celebs And Other World Leaders Are Saying About International Day Of The Girl

The holiday founded by the United Nations in 2012 is dedicated to pushing for concrete, long-term change for girls and young women in order for them to reach their full potential.

 

 

 

 

 

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A young girl enjoys a healthy meal provided by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in #Haiti. Thursday's International #DayOfTheGirl provides an opportunity to turn our attention to the 600 million adolescent girls who are preparing to enter the workforce. Sadly, many of these girls have yet to be given the space and opportunities they need to achieve their full potential. Our WFP colleagues know that school meals encourage families to keep girls in school - empowering them to lead the life they dream of through education. Regram: @worldfoodprogramme | ??: Rein Skullerud

A post shared by United Nations (@unitednations) on Oct 11, 2018 at 9:39am PDT

 

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Different, but related, aspects of girls' lives are given focus on annual International Day of the Girl observances, with 2018's theme being "With Her: A Skilled GirlForce." The campaign highlights the educational gap of girls and their male counterparts, how this affects their employability, and ultimately, the impact their professional attainment has on their quality of life as adults. 

 

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The concerns of increasing female unemployment and gender bias are the most common problems faced by women today in this context. To address this, the United Nations has a year-long plan of programs to facilitate channels of female entrepreneurship, educate young women about other means to carve their own professional paths, and of course, raise awareness via social media. 

 

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Actively supporting the UN's International Day of the Girl initatives and creating buzz around the pressing issue are some of Hollywood's biggest stars (both men and women). Here's what some of them had to say:

 

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

This husband-and-wife team shared a duet of "Female." Extra credit is awarded for the fact their daughters, Sunday and Faith, filmed the performance. 

 

 

 

 

 

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To honor International #DayoftheGirl - filmed by Sunday and Faith!!! @KeithUrban

A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman) on Oct 11, 2018 at 9:23am PDT

 

 

Michelle Obama

The former First Lady of the United States took the opportunity to promote the Obama Foundation's Global Girls Alliance, "a program to empower adolescent girls around the world through education."

 

 

 

 

 

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Right now, more than 98 million adolescent girls around the world are not in school. I see myself in these girls. I see my daughters in these girls. I know a lot of you see yourselves and your families in them, too. That’s why today on the International #DayoftheGirl, the @ObamaFoundation is launching the @GlobalGirlsAlliance—a program to empower adolescent girls around the world through education. We believe that change happens from the ground up, so we’re working to support grassroots leaders and to spur action from people like you, all around the world. We can accomplish more together than we can on our own, so I hope you’ll join our alliance—because the future of our world is only as bright as our girls. #GlobalGirlsAlliance

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Oct 11, 2018 at 6:39am PDT

 

 

Dakota Johnson

This famous face willingly gave her phone number for people to call and share their stories or experiences of violence against women and young girls. To further highlight her commitment to the cause, she emptied her Instagram account of all photos, leaving only this image behind. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Women and girls in every corner of the world face extreme violence and sexual harassment on a daily basis. Over 800 women and adolescent girls die every day because they do not have access to reliable contraceptives and basic maternity services. I don’t want to speak for you. I want to listen to you. This is my phone number. Tell me your story in my voicemail, and I will listen. There is power in numbers. Together with @glblctzn I will compile your stories and get your voices heard. We must achieve a world where #sheisequal. Love, respect, and trust, Dakota

A post shared by Dakota Johnson (@dakotajohnson) on Oct 8, 2018 at 11:12am PDT

 

 

Jennifer Lopez

The pop star and actress took to Twitter to express her support for the Global Girls Alliance.

 

An educated girl can lift up her family, her community, and her country. That’s why I’m proud to join @MichelleObama and the Global @GirlsAlliance to stand up for adolescent girls’ education worldwide. Join us: https://t.co/C1Q0eoissJ.#GlobalGirlsAlliance pic.twitter.com/DV7D2nYe6a

— Jennifer Lopez (@JLo) October 11, 2018

 

 

Jennifer Hudson

She dedicated her performance of "I'll Fight" for the cause, rallying her audience to be advocates of the same with her immense talent. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sometimes u just got to fight your way thru it ! “I’ll fight “ @warren_diane @rbgmovie @todayshow @michelleobama @nbcthevoice #internationaldayofthegirl

A post shared by Jennifer Hudson (@iamjhud) on Oct 11, 2018 at 12:45pm PDT

 

 

Emma Watson

The child actor-turned-vocal social advocate turned her followers' attention to Frida Fund a.k.a. The Young Feminist Fund, which she described as "the only youth led fund focused on supporting the organising of young feminist activists all over the world."

 

 

 

 

 

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Today is International Day of the Girl ???????? & I want to celebrate by letting all the girls here know ???? that I am truly and totally in awe of all the ideas, efforts and talents you’re using to organise together and transform our world! I’m so inspired by you all xo ????????? I encourage you to check out @FRIDAfund - the only youth led fund focused on supporting the organising of young feminist activists all over the world ?? because your work is critical to expanding, rejuvenating and sustaining social justice movements, now and in the future! ????????? ????????? ? www.youngfeministfund.org ?

A post shared by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on Oct 11, 2018 at 1:27am PDT

 

 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

He's not exactly a Hollywood celebrity, but his sphere of influence and appeal to the public in and out of Canada is definitely comparable to that of a moviestar. The politicial known for his unconventional approach to leadership and sense of humor lived up to expectations on this day. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Today is about our daughters, granddaughters, sisters & nieces. It’s about making sure they grow up in a world where their voices are heard & they have the support they need to chase down their dreams. #DayoftheGirl ???? Aujourd’hui, nous célébrons nos filles, nos petites-filles, nos sœurs et nos nièces. Nous devons bâtir un monde où leur voix sera entendue et où elles auront le soutien nécessaire pour poursuivre leurs rêves. #JournéeDeLaFille

A post shared by Justin Trudeau (@justinpjtrudeau) on Oct 11, 2018 at 5:11am PDT

 

 

David Beckham

International Day of the Girl might be directed towards bettering the lives of girls and women, but that is not to say that boys and men can't support the cause or play their part in moving towards a solution. Football legend David Beckham is a prime example of this.

 

 

 

 

 

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When girls receive an education, amazing things start to happen! Poverty goes down. Economies grow. Families get stronger. Babies are born healthier. And the world, by all accounts, gets better. That’s why on the International #DayoftheGirl, I’m proud to join @MichelleObama and the @GlobalGirlsAlliance to stand up for adolescent girls’ education. Join us— because the future of our world is only as bright as our girls. #GlobalGirlsAlliance

A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on Oct 11, 2018 at 6:31am PDT

 

 

Natalie Portman

Multi-awarded actress Natalie Portman took the time to share statistics about the educational issues girls in the world face today to help drive the point home. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Today, more than 98 million adolescent girls are not in school. That’s a lot of empty desks. That’s a lot of dreams that are being cut short. That’s why today on International #DayoftheGirl, I’m proud to join @MichelleObama and the @GlobalGirlsAlliance to stand up for adolescent girls’ education. Join us—because the future of our world is only as bright as our girls. #GlobalGirlsAlliance

A post shared by Natalie Portman (@natalieportman) on Oct 11, 2018 at 7:06am PDT

 

 

Amy Poehler

The Saturday Night Live alum chose to focus on a previous International Day of the Girl issue: underage marriage. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Girls are married every two seconds around the world. . This #DayoftheGirl consider supporting @tooyoungtowed . Link in bio ?? to support and help amplify their mission to protect girls' rights and end child marriage. #tooyoungtowed

A post shared by Amy Poehler's Smart Girls (@amypoehlersmartgirls) on Oct 11, 2018 at 4:02pm PDT

 

 

Malala Yousafzai

Considered as one of the most influential and illustrious women's rights activists of her time, Malala Yousafzai was definitely at the forefront of calling attention to this special day. 

 

 

 

 

 

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I have visited girls in favelas, slums, refugee camps and war zones. The hardest thing is to see a girl nearly my age, with all the dreams and aspirations that I have, stuck in a situation she didn’t create and unable to choose her own future. Today is International Day of the Girl. Let’s make it more than just feminist T-shirts and hashtags. If we truly believe “the future is female” or that “girls run the world,” we need to support girls on the front lines of the fight for education and equality. Link in profile to @malalafund. #DayOfTheGirl

A post shared by Malala Yousafzai (@malala) on Oct 11, 2018 at 8:57am PDT

 

 

Constance Wu

Crazy Rich Asians leading lady Constance Wu used her online influence to speak to her audience about the advocacy. Being a fellow Global Girls Alliance supporter, she took to Instagram to post her own thoughts about the program. 

 

 

 

 

 

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I’m proud to stand with @globalgirlsalliance to support girls’ education all over the world, join us! #dayofthegirl @yarashahidi @juliaroberts @annehathaway @natalieportman @davidbeckham @johnlegend @jessicaalba @amypoehlersmartgirls @michelleobama #merylstreep

A post shared by Constance Wu (@constancewu) on Oct 11, 2018 at 4:11pm PDT

 

Photos from @jlo @michelleobama @emmawatson