By: Baarika Suresh

*Warning: This article contains information and details about rape.

Monday, the 25th of November, was the international day for the elimination of violence against women, and in recognition of that I have chosen to tell the story of Gisèle Pelicot who was an ordinary woman in Avignon, France. She is 71 years old and had been married to her husband for nearly 50 years.

During the court trial, Gisèle Pelicot’s husband, Dominique Pelicot (72), admitted to mixing drugs into her food and drink which caused her to become unconscious so that he and other men he had recruited online could rape her. It was anticipated that the prosecutors would need three days to compile evidence and specify the judgments and penalties they wanted due to the large number of defendants and alleged rapes.

Prosecutors sought penalties of 10 years or more for co-defendants also on trial for rape, or attempted rape, in the first cases they addressed on Monday, and they asked for 20 years in jail (which is the harshest punishment for aggravated rape) for Dominique Pelicot.

It is expected that the court will deliver its verdicts by December 20th, 2024.

The victim waived her right to anonymity, a demonstration of courage. The prosecutor, Jean-François Mayet, commended her bravery and her will to shift the blame from victims to their rapists.

This case is revolutionary as it is making a great impact when it comes to feminism and victims of sexual violence. Chantal Crémont, a supporter who traveled from western France said that, “When she (Giséle Pelicot) says that shame changes sides, it’s really that. She’s standing as the victim and she’s turning the tables. It’s very important.”

On Saturday, November 23rd, large groups of men and women marched in Paris while holding purple signs that supported women’s reproductive rights and condemned gender-based violence. Organizers of the protest called for more government funding to combat sexist behavior and sexual assault as well as to advance gender equality.