Gisele Pelicot: A look back at the trial which shook the world

On the 2nd November 2020, Gisele Pelicot’s world changed forever. Her marriage to Dominique Pelicot had not been without its faults over the course of 50 years, but together they raised three children, eventually settling in Mazan and living a quiet life. Unbeknownst to her however, she had been the victim of the most disturbing case of mass-rape over the course of nearly 10 years.

 

After Dominique Pelicot was arrested in September 2020 for ‘upskirting’ women in a local supermarket, a police investigation uncovered more than 20,000 images and videos of an unconscious and drugged Gisele Pelicot being sexually assaulted by 72 different men.

 

When police spoke to Gisele, she said she had no memory of the incidents at all. She said later in court:

 

 “My world is collapsing, for me, everything is falling apart, everything I had built in 50 years.”

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A Landmark Trial and Global Impact

In September 2024, the trial of 51 men, including Dominique Pelicot began. It was Gisele however, who would capture the hearts and minds of those across the globe, bravely waiving her right to anonymity and insisting on a public trial. In her own words,

 

‘Shame must change sides’.

 

During the trial Gisele became a feminist icon in France, inspiring marches, protests and murals, with a group known as Les Amazones d’Avignon plastered on walls near the court and who applauded as Gisele left court each day. A French opinion poll even named her as the ‘most influential person of the year’ beating world leaders like Zelensky, Macron, Trump and more. Gisele has been recognised as an influential figure internationally as well, with petitions for her to win the Nobel Peace Prize ongoing.

 

Gisele’s goal however was more than to just inspire. It was to call for change.

 

During the trial she said:

 

“I am expressing myself here not with my anger nor my hatred, but with my will for society to change.” One particular call has been for changes in the French penal code on rape, which currently makes no clear mention of the need for a partner’s consent. Therefore, prosecutors must prove the intention to rape to secure a guilty verdict.

 

Further changes are being called for, particularly from Sandrine Josso MP, and Gisele’s daughter Caroline who are working to put together drug-testing kits which are to be made available in pharmacies.

 

However, the more effective changes reach beyond changes in legislation. It’s the changing of attitudes and public understanding of sexual assault, not just in France, but worldwide that has catapulted this case into international consciousness. A poll by Ifop[VG1]  found that 85% of those polled in France said the trial should lead more people to fight sexual violence, with a majority saying the case made them reconsider their own views on sexual abuse.

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Shattering Myths about Sexual Abuse

To those unaware of the case, Gisele may not look like a typical victim of sexual abuse. But there is no ‘typical victim’ and there is no ‘typical perpetrator’. Anyone, of any background, identity or age can experience sexual violence and abuse.

 

The myth of a typical scenario of sexual abuse - committed by a stranger towards an attractive younger woman - can result in signs of abuse committed against those outside that stereotype being missed. Hourglass research in 2020 revealed that only 2% of the UK population believed older people were at risk of sexual abuse, and one in three people (35%) didn’t see ‘inappropriate or unwanted sexual comments or acts’ directed towards an older person as abuse.

 

This shocking case has revealed many things, not least that it is society's perception of abuse that can have a very real impact for victim-survivors. That is no more evident when it comes to older victim-survivors, who often go unnoticed in mainstream discussions about abuse. With ongoing conversations in the UK about Violence Against Women and Girls, it is essential to ensure that the experiences of older victims are included and play a crucial role in shaping strategies.

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Hope for the future

On the 19th December 2024, Dominique Pelicot and 47 men were found guilty of rape, with two guilty of attempted rape and two guilty of sexual assault. Dominique himself was found guilty of all charges, receiving the maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

 

As the trial ended, Gisele was not focused on herself. Instead, her closing comments were focused on her children, her grandchildren and her hope for a brighter future. In her closing comments she said:

 

“I now have faith in our capacity to collectively take hold of a future in which everybody, women, men, can live together in harmony, in respect and mutual understanding.”

 

If nothing else, Gisele’s brave stance, her inspirational words and the reaction worldwide has proved that the experiences of victim-survivors matter and they deserve to be heard. By everyone.

 

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Openly discussing the sexual abuse of older people remains a taboo, with many stigmas and prejudices remaining. However, widespread discussion about this case is an example of progress when it comes to breaking that silence.

 

We’re likewise encouraged by representations on UK mainstream television, with the BBC’s flagship soap EastEnders featuring a high-profile storyline last year on the sexual abuse of an older person. We were pleased to have been invited to consult on that storyline and you can read more about that here.