About SISHA International
SISHA International is an international organisation that fights for women and children that have been abused or oppressed around the world.
SISHA International works with local officials to provide victims with immediate assistance and aftercare, to prosecute offenders and to ensure that judicial process protects the community.
Vision - “A world where everyone can live free from oppression and abuse”
History
Steve Morrish, whilst working as a Police Detective with Victoria Police, Australia, traveled to Cambodia and saw a massive gap between poor, vulnerable people, and judicial process. Concerned with the amount of human trafficking and child abuse in Cambodia, and seeing a lack of capacity of local law enforcement to investigate these serious crimes, Steve resigned from Victoria Police and founded SISHA in June 2007.
Earning a reputation as an organisation that is prepared to get their hands dirty and tackle the most heinous of abuse crimes without fear or prejudice, SISHA has grown in size and today has professionals from around the world dedicating their life to assisting those in need of help.
Ensuring that SISHA continues to respond to abuse crimes that are affecting the communities we work in, Steve has conducted extensive research studies into the amount of child pornography being viewed in internet cafes in Cambodia; conducted studies into Cambodian Police investigation capacity, recruiting and promotion processes; and conducted studies into victim identification techniques in Cambodia.
SISHA also believes in ensuring that local enforcement represents the community correctly and provides an effective policing response. In october 2009, Steve designed the first ever two week practical exercise based criminal investigation training program for front line police and has trained over 600 Cambodian National Police since the programs inception.
In September 2014, as a result of SISHA’s global reach as an organisation, SISHA officially changed its name to SISHA International.
SISHA International’s Reaction
Regardless of religion, ethnicity, or gender, SISHA International through its casework fights abuse. Abuse comes in many forms, like human trafficking, slavery, rape, sexual assault and bonded labour.
Regardless of what abuse crimes SISHA International investigates, our primary objective is to stop crimes that take away the innocence of children, the dignity of young girls and the safety of families.
Offenders who abuse people, flourish on the feeling of power over the weak and look to the vulnerability of the poor. SISHA International stands up for those who cant fight for themselves and ensures that victims are empowered by making sure that the person who abused them is held accountable.
SISHA International Casework
SISHA International’s professional staff in collaboration with local authorities, respond to individual cases of abuse to ensure that victims are provided quality care and support, and offenders are held accountable. Collaboration between SISHA International and authorities is crucial to prosecuting offenders and allowing victims of abuse to have their voice heard.
In a holistic approach to victims needs, SISHA International responds to crimes of abuse, assist & removes people from abusive situations, provides aftercare and social services and provides legal representation to victims and their families.
SISHA International adheres to its CARTAL principles:
- Crisis - Receive reports of child abuse and rape regardless of gender, race, religion or ethnicity
- Abuse - Assess the crisis and determine the best services required
- Response - Provide a timely reaction to the needs of victims and families
- Triage - Provide quality medical services to victims
- Accountability - Hold offenders accountable for their crimes
- Legal - Provide unbiased legal representation free from negative influence
SISHA International Moving Forward
SISHA International has made significant progress in its fight against abuse over the past 7 years, however so much more needs to be done and so many more people need our help. The next 7 years will see SISHA International continue its partnerships with government, judicial officials and the community, and aggressively continue to prosecute and hold offenders of abuse accountable.
Increasing the capacity of our social services and widening the reach of our legal representation going forward will ensure that those who have been abused will have a greater chance of rehabilitation and re-integration into the community.