The Islamic New Year—also known as the Arabic New Year or Hijri New Year—marks the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar.
After Ramadan, Muharram is the second most holy month of the Islamic year.
For Muslims around the world, Hijri New Year is a time for reflection and mourning, with the majority joining prayer sessions in their mosques and spending time with family.
Although no large-scale celebrations take place, it is usually declared as a public holiday in most Muslim-majority nations including Indonesia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Decades of research has shown that the sexual exploitation of children is a global issue.
The sexual exploitation of children occurs across a wide range of socioeconomic groups, educational levels, ethnic and cultural groups, and in every geographic region.
Across ECPAT’s global membership, many reside in Muslim-majority nations, where children face the risk of child marriage, child trafficking, and other forms of exploitation and abuse.
Click on the images below to learn more about our work in ending the sexual exploitation of children across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
