On International Day of the Girl, two groups of adolescent girls stand at the pivot point of modern human history. 

This year, girls born at the start of the Millennium Development Goals announced in 2000 are adolescents. Globally, these girls have seen their situations drastically improve.

Girls today are more likely to enroll in primary school, receive vaccines and general healthcare. The progress made under the MDGs has been remarkable, but it is not enough. This is where the second group comes into play.

Girls born this year will be 15 years old when the Global Goals culminate in 2030. These Goals have the capacity to deliver a world without gender inequality, with education for all and a planet free of the injustice of extreme poverty.

So today, on International Day of the Girl, it is time to salute these two groups of adolescent girls. The adolescents of today and the adolescents of 2030. These two generations have the ability to define the future for every person on our planet.

Recognizing this historic moment, the theme for this year is “The Power of the Adolescent Girl.”

And you have the ability to make sure the world of today begins the work for a world with full gender equity in 2030.

You can join Global Citizen and CHIME FOR CHANGE, as they partner with incredible public support from world leaders to CHIME FOR CHANGE Co-Founders Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Salma Hayek Pinault to global citizens like you. They, along with an incredible list of global supporters of women, are speaking out in the powerful video above.

It’s time for you to join them. It’s time for everyone to CHIME for education, health, and justice for every girl and every woman everywhere. 

On this International Day of the Girl, raise your voice and tell world leaders to put gender equality and women's economic empowerment at the top of their agenda in TAKE ACTION NOW.