‘Shame needs to change sides,’ Gisèle’s plea for justice
A French court rejected an appeal from a man convicted of raping Gisèle Pelicot and increased his prison term from nine years to ten. The defendant argued his guilty verdict should be overturned because he believed rape required physical force. Prosecutors cited his refusal to accept responsibility for his actions.
Pelicot waived anonymity after her husband drugged and raped her repeatedly while inviting dozens of men to participate. Her public testimony forced France to examine how its legal system still focuses on physical resistance rather than consent. Family members have pursued additional cases against the perpetrator.
The World Health Organization estimates that nearly one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence. Advocates argue that laws should focus on whether someone freely agreed, rather than requiring proof of force.
