This article tells the harrowing story of Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman who endured nearly a decade of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot.
He drugged her over the years, allowing him to assault her repeatedly and even involving other people in the abuse while she was unconscious.
In total, 51 individuals took part in the assaults. Despite the shocking nature of the crime, the perpetrators received sentences much shorter than what the prosecutors had asked for, ranging from 3 to 15 years.
The abuse only came to light in 2020, when Dominique Pelicot was being investigated for filming women without their consent.
Police discovered disturbing evidence, including photos and videos of the abuse, on his computer.
During the trial, Gisèle Pelicot made the courageous decision to waive her anonymity and publicly share her story.
She boldly declared, “It is not us who should feel shame, but them,” and her words resonated with people across France and around the world.
Her bravery sparked protests calling for stronger laws to protect women and for a shift in the societal attitudes toward sexual violence.
Gisèle Pelicot’s goal was not only to seek justice for herself but also to give a voice to other victims whose stories often go unheard.
She hopes her openness during the trial will encourage society to confront sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
In France, the maximum penalty for rape is 20 years, but many activists believe this is not enough to truly reflect the severity of the trauma victims face.
The article also touches on a global issue: violence against women remains widespread, with an estimated 736 million women worldwide experiencing physical or sexual abuse.
Despite this, many cases go unreported and unpunished. Gisèle Pelicot’s case has highlighted the need to break the silence around sexual violence and the stigma attached to it. Her fight is a call for change, urging that such crimes should never be trivialized or ignored.
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