Press Release – Wednesday 19th November 2014.
SISHA International strongly disagrees with the lenient sentence handed down by the Melbourne Magistrates Court today to a male who tortured his 5 year-old step-daughter.
SISHA International works tirelessly to investigate cases of human trafficking and child abuse in many developing countries and works with numerous key stakeholders to raise awareness about the impact abuse has on a child’s development and life.
We are strong advocates of judicial accountability and believe that lengthy gaol sentences given to offenders, particularly in countries where education and understanding of judicial laws is poor, sends a very clear message that abusing a child will not be tolerated.
“Todays sentence handed down by Magistrate Franz Holter is so far out of touch with what the community expects, it defies belief.” SISHA International’s CEO Steve Morrish said.
According to an article written in Australia’s Herald Sun Newspaper today, headlined, ‘Evil stepdad Adam Douglas Jacobs jailed for savage abuse of girl, 5’, the 5 year-old girl was beaten on numerous occasions over the course of a year, sometimes vomiting or defecating in the shower as a result of the abuse.
Magistrate Holter stated “this was a deplorable crime that had very plain and significant impacts on the young person involved”.
“As CEO of an organsation that works to stop child abuse, I find the sentence of 6 months gaol, extremely inadequate and disappointing, and directly works against the hard work SISHA International and other anti-abuse advocates are doing to rid the community of these terrible crimes.” Morrish said.
“As a father of two daughters I am disgusted with this sentence and cannot believe that any magistrate with an understanding of community expectation, could give someone 6 months goal for committing such abhorrent acts of abuse against a child. “ said Morrish.
SISHA International will continue to stand up for abused children and asks the community to use social media to stop child abuse.