On December 19, 51 men were found guilty of the rape of Gisèle Pelicot, including her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, who orchestrated the assaults. Dominique received the national maximum sentence of 20 years, while others were sentenced to 3-15 years in prison.
Gisèle Pelicot’s decision to forgo her right to anonymity when she first appeared in court in September was widely praised as an act of immense courage, aimed at making “shame change sides.” At the beginning of the trial, she said: “I want all women who survived rape to be able to say, Gisèle Pelicot did it, it can be done.” Her choice has been described as transformative, with feminist and political commentators calling the case historic and potentially pivotal for reshaping the way France addresses rape and sexual violence.
Read more: The courage of Gisèle Pelicot
In a conversation with media organization L’Humanité, feminist historian Christelle Taraud pointed out that the case has brought multiple issues of gender-based and sexual violence into focus, demanding more decisive action and accountability from legislators. While the case emphasized the importance of addressing chemical submission in cases of rape, Taraud explained, its implications extend far beyond that. “It was a trial of a patriarchal system that allows men to believe that all the women in their family are at their disposal, to use and abuse as they please,” she stated. Taraud also noted that while the dozens of men who stood trial were justly convicted as rapists, Dominique Pelicot should have faced even graver charges, specifically attempted femicide.
Between 2011 and 2020, Dominique Pelicot systematically drugged his then-wife Gisèle, administering high doses that left her disoriented and suffering from such severe memory loss that she suspected she had a neurological illness. He then complotted a frightening scheme with approximately 70 men—spanning various ages and classes—to rape Gisèle in their family home in Mazan, near Avignon, while she was unconscious. He also filmed the assaults, leaving no doubt about the gravity of his actions or the other men’s awareness of the situation.
A potential turning point in combating rape culture
While the trial’s overall outcome was welcomed, feminist networks and Gisèle Pelicot’s children voiced concerns that the sentences for the co-assailants were far too lenient, highlighting the need for greater support for rape survivors in France. “Today, shame has changed sides, but the fight against impunity has only just begun,” said Anne-Cécile Mailfert of the Women’s Foundation (Fondation des Femmes). Although many rape cases that reach trial in France result in convictions, feminist collectives point out that 94% of rape complaints never even make it to court. In collaboration with trade unions, these groups have announced a campaign advocating for new legislation aimed at bringing justice for all survivors of gender-based violence.
As the campaign is expected to gain momentum, the French left has also welcomed the outcome of the Gisèle Pelicot trial, describing it as a turning point. Manon Aubry, France Unbowed’s representative in the European Parliament, called it a historic moment “that should make us think about the perpetrators, the treatment of victims, and the concept of consent in a country where the vast majority of victims never receive justice.”
Similarly, France Unbowed’s Manuel Bompard expressed hope that the Mazan rape trial would mark a turning point in combating rape culture. “Thank you, Madame,” Bompard wrote in a message, acknowledging once again Gisèle Pelicot’s courage.
