Gisèle Pelicot Declares Her Trial Was for All Sexual Violence Survivors at UK Memoir Launch
The feminist hero who transformed the landscape for sexual offence survivors with her powerful calls to shift shame onto perpetrators has spoken emotionally about her landmark case. Gisèle Pelicot, 73, stated that her public trial was not just her own but represented all women who have endured sexual violence, during the UK launch of her compelling new memoir, A Hymn to Life.
Strength from Solidarity: Women Outside Court Provided Courage
Speaking at the Southbank Centre in London on Friday, Ms Pelicot described how the growing numbers of women gathered outside the courthouse in Avignon throughout the three-month trial became a vital source of strength. Initially planning to attend only two weeks, she found herself sustained by their presence. "It gave me an enormous amount of strength," she revealed. "I had to stay there, we were really connected."
To cope with the harrowing daily proceedings, Ms Pelicot avoided news entirely and instead ended each day by reading letters from women worldwide who shared their own survival stories. "This actually gave me strength," she emphasized. "It wasn't just my own trial, but a trial for all these women who went through sexual violence."
A Harrowing Ordeal Detailed in Powerful Memoir
Her memoir, written with journalist Judith Perrignon and released this week, details the horrific discovery that her then-husband, Dominique Pelicot, drugged and raped her while unconscious, alongside dozens of men recruited online. The book recounts the moment her "brain shut down" as police explained the atrocities. In 2024, 47 men were convicted of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault, receiving a total of 428 years in prison.
During the event, chaired by journalist Samira Ahmed, actors including Juliet Stevenson, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, and Kate Winslet delivered moving readings from the memoir. Ms Pelicot and Ms Ahmed also discussed approximately 20 additional attackers believed to be unidentified beyond the 51 convicted. Ms Pelicot expressed little hope of finding them, stating, "No, I don't think so. Sometimes I fear these individuals could continue committing crimes."
The Trial of Cowardice and Family Shattered
Ms Pelicot labeled the trial "the trial of cowardice" because none of the perpetrators admitted wrongdoing. She extended sympathy to the families of the attackers, noting, "There was not just one victim, there were 51 victims." The trauma profoundly affected her own family, pushing them apart rather than uniting them. "This trauma didn't bring us together. It's not true that trauma necessarily brings family together," she confessed.
Reflecting on her husband of 50 years, she described him as "a man split in two," echoing trial psychologists. "I tried to bring him into the light, but he has this dark side. It's intolerable. It's unacceptable. This shattered our family, our lives were absolutely shattered," she said.
A Message of Hope and Future Serenity
Despite briefly considering ending her life, Ms Pelicot found inner resilience. "This was only a momentary thought. I thought no. I have to continue. It was important to face up to reality. I had some sort of strength inside," she declared. Her memoir aims to convey a powerful message of hope. "Above all, this book is a message of hope. Look at what I've gone through, I'm still here. We can go through difficult times. We can get through," she told the audience.
Looking ahead, she plans to live "serenely" but remains committed to supporting other women. "I'll always listen to women who need support. I'll always be here," she affirmed. A Hymn to Life is published by Bodley Head and is available now.
