Gisele Pelicot, a 72-year-old French grandmother, addressed the court with determination during the trial of her ex-husband and 50 other men accused of orchestrating a decade-long series of rapes. Pelicot, who waived her anonymity, declared it was time to shift shame onto the perpetrators, not survivors. She revealed her ex-husband drugged her to facilitate the assaults, recruiting the men online.
Pelicot condemned the accused for denying responsibility, with some claiming ignorance or believing the abuse was consensual roleplay. Despite her trauma, she expressed a clear resolve to speak out, seeking justice and inspiring other victims to break their silence. Her courage has become a rallying point for advocates fighting against systemic neglect of sexual violence in France.
The trial has drawn widespread attention to issues of domestic abuse and rape culture. Pelicot hopes her bravery can catalyze societal change and redefine accountability for such heinous crimes.
