![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2017/05/IMG_6325-Medium.jpg)
MBOMBELA – The country is observing the 2017 Child Protection Week from today (May 28) until this coming Saturday.
The Child Protection Week came at a time where rape and brutal killings of women and children is rife.
The department of social development in the province will intensify efforts to raise awareness on issues of child abuse, child neglect and child exploitation.
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“Green ribbons will be worn as a sign of support to children’s protection initiatives. We invite all of you to do the same,” said the MEC of the department, Ms Busi Shiba.
Mpumalanga News also learnt that some of the challenges that are faced by children in society is child labour and child trafficking where they are sent to other countries and used as sex slaves. It is also alleged that children in the province fall victims of human trafficking because it is close to port of entries.
She also said they will continue to provide psycho-social support to orphans and vulnerable children and link those on the verge of existing the foster care system to sustainable social protection programmes.
”I believe that we will able to achieve that by working together with our stakeholders,” she concluded