Gisèle Pelicot’s Story of Survival and Renewal
Gisèle Pelicot, the survivor at the center of the largest rape trial in French history, revealed how she has managed to trust again and found love following her traumatic experiences.
Her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, subjected her to drug-facilitated rape for over a decade. During this time, he also allowed at least 70 men to enter their home to sexually assault her.
The 73-year-old Pelicot’s courageous decision to waive her right to anonymity as a survivor of sexual abuse ignited global discussions on feminism and survivors’ rights.
Finding Love and Trust Again
Speaking at the Hay Festival on Saturday, Pelicot emphasized that the shame belongs to the perpetrators, not the victim. She shared how she never imagined she could trust a man again until she met her current partner, Jean-Loup Agopian.
"It’s something that I didn’t think, I didn’t think that could happen, especially at my age,"
"I didn’t really want to [fall in love], but life decided otherwise.
"We met, our trajectories crossed at one moment and I met this young man of 73.
"You see, you can fall in love at any age, it happened to me, it can happen to you, I’m convinced of it.
"I didn’t think that I’d be able to trust a man, but it’s what happened to me, so you see that everything can be allowed in life, you must never despair."
Discussion at the Hay Festival
Pelicot appeared at the festival to discuss her memoir, A Hymn to Life, and was interviewed on stage by Baroness Helena Kennedy.
When asked about her outlook on the future for women, Pelicot expressed optimism.
"I feel very serene about it because I think that we can all live together in harmony, men and women, and I think it's a question of educating our children very young.
"Maybe I'm a very optimistic person by nature, but I would hope that the human being will go towards peace and love."
Advocacy and Family Support
She also praised her daughter Caroline Darian’s advocacy group, M’endors pas, which campaigns against drug-facilitated sexual assault and supports victims of chemical submission.
During the event, Pelicot invited her daughter to join her on stage amid a standing ovation.
"I'm really happy to exceptional moment with my daughter Caroline, who really fought on this.
"I'm really proud to be her mummy."
