Gisèle Pelicot, who became a global symbol in the fight against sexual violence after the trial in Mazan, has published her memoirs titled 'Et la joie de vivre'. In a series of moving interviews for French and British media, the 73-year-old describes her journey from discovering her husband's horrific betrayal to regaining her dignity and desire to live. Her stance has inspired thousands of women to speak out loudly about the harm they have suffered.

Memoir Release

The book 'Et la joie de vivre' details the moment of discovering the crime and the process of Gisèle Pelicot regaining control over her own life.

Fight Against Anonymity

The heroine consciously waived her right to conceal her identity to become a symbol of the fight for the rights of all victims of sexual violence.

Sentence for the Perpetrator

Her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging his wife for many years and organizing gang rapes.

Gisèle Pelicot, a figure who shook public opinion with her resilience during the trial in Mazan, returns with a personal testimony. Her book titled 'Et la joie de vivre' ('And the Joy of Living'), published by Flammarion, begins by describing the tragic day of November 2, 2020. It was then that the police informed her of the discovery of recordings documenting years of rapes she had been subjected to in her own home. The investigation revealed that her then-husband, Dominique Pelicot, had drugged her with medication for nearly a decade to enable dozens of strange men to commit sexual assaults. In interviews given to outlets including BBC Newsnight and French television, Pelicot emphasizes that the most difficult moment was not the confrontation with the perpetrators themselves, but the necessity of informing her three adult children about everything. The decision to waive anonymity, which was a precedent in French law, aimed to change the perception of rape victims. As she notes, she wanted the shame to change sides and pass to the perpetrators. Now 73, Pelicot declares that despite traumatic experiences, she has found the strength within herself to enjoy life again and be a voice for those who remain silent. The French penal code provides high protection for the privacy of victims of sexual crimes, but Gisèle Pelicot consciously exercised her right to a public trial, which in 2024 sparked a nationwide debate over the definition of consent in criminal law. The trial, which took place in Avignon, ended with her former husband being sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, in her memoirs, Pelicot does not focus solely on suffering, but on the process of rebuilding her own identity. She emphasizes the importance of international solidarity and the support she received from women around the world. Her story became an impetus for systemic changes in the approach to domestic violence and rapes involving psychoactive substances, and the author herself is now considered an icon of contemporary feminism. „I wanted all women who are victims of rape to tell themselves: Mrs. Pelicot did it, we can too. I want my example to serve others.” — Gisèle Pelicot 20 years — sentence her former husband received for organizing the rapes Change in Victim Status: : → ; : →

Mentioned People

  • Gisèle Pelicot — French activist and victim of sexual violence who waived her anonymity during a high-profile trial.
  • Dominique Pelicot — Gisèle's former husband, convicted for drugging his wife for many years and organizing rapes.
  • Victoria Derbyshire — British BBC journalist who interviewed Pelicot.