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On Thursday, at a courthouse in Avignon, France, Dominique Pelicot was handed 20 years in prison for aggravated rape following over a decade of drugging and abusing his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and inviting over 50 men to rape her.
Among the 50 co-defendants, 46 were convicted of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault.
The judge handed down sentences ranging from three and 15 years, with a combined total of more than 400 years — less than what prosecutors had asked for.
The historic mass rape trial was first broadcast back in September, to which Pelicot garnered global support after choosing to wave her right to anonymity and bring the trial into a public spotlight. She described this decision as coming from a ‘will and determination to change society.’
The case quickly gained global traction with calls for both political and societal reform being echoed from the small southern French town of Mazan to Europe and beyond, with many calling this a ‘second wave of the #MeToo movement.’
Speaking to reporters outside of the courthouse, Pelicot issued her first statement following the verdicts. ‘I think of all the unrecognised victims whose stories often remain in the shadows. I want you to know that we share the same fight,’ she said.
Declining to answer any questions, she shared that she did not regret her decision to publicise the trial and instead hoped that society could ‘take hold of the debates that took place there.’
‘I now have confidence in our ability to collectively seize a future in which each woman and man can live in harmony with respect and mutual understanding. I thank you,’ she concluded, before leaving the courthouse for the final time.
The 15-week trial has been broadcast across international newsrooms, with many highlighting the same issues surrounding sexual violence and consent; a reckoning that has been long overdue in France.
Current French law does not include the word ‘consent’s in its definition of rape, which can make it difficult for prosecutors to prove intention in instances such as drug-induced rape, or if a person is unable to communicate out of fear or shock.
Shame must change sides
Gisele Pelicot ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fAZFygdogQ
— Amy8829 (@amyalby2904) December 19, 2024
There is hope among many that a trial of this magnitude may pave the way for vital legal changes for women and girls across the country.
France’s Institute of Public Policies reports that 94% of rapes between 2012 and 2021 are either not prosecuted or never come to trial.
Speaking prior to the verdicts, Pelicot’s lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau, acknowledged the sheer scale of support the trial has brought in, noting that ‘there are very many victims that are going to trial, facing their aggressors without having anyone outside, lining up for them, offering flowers.’
For many women, this case has unearthed horrors that cannot be swept under the rug. It has also highlighted, however, that justice is possible for women and girls who’ve endured heinous sexual crimes if brought to light.
