Almost 50 thousand girls around the world are forced to marry before they turn 18. 16 million girls will never start school, that's twice the number of boys.

A United Nations Population Fund report has been launched today which focuses on ten year old girls and their importance for our future.

It's calling on the world's Nations to take action to ensure that young girls grow into happy, well educated, empowered adults.

Kim Buckley has this report: