France rape trial: Gisele Pelicot calls for a future with ‘respect and mutual understanding’ between men and women

Gisele Pelicot has spoken after her ex-husband was among 51 men who have been sentenced for a series of rapes and sex attacks against her.

Outside the court in Avignon, southern France, she said: “This case was a very difficult test for me”.

“I’m thinking first and foremost of my three children [and] my grandchildren because they are the future… for them, I wanted to really put this struggle forward.”

“I’d like to express my gratitude, my deepest gratitude to all the individuals who have supported me throughout this… this really gave me strength to come back day after day for this long trial”.

She said she wanted to be open and honest “to ensure that society could actually see what was happening and I never have regretted this decision”.

“I now have faith in our capacity to collectively take hold of a future in which everybody, women, men, can live together in harmony, in respect and mutual understanding.”

When asked about the sentences she responded: “I respect the courts and their decision”.

Her former husband Dominique Pelicot, 72, received 20 years – the maximum sentence available for aggravated rape.

He admitted drugging and raping her and inviting dozens of strangers he met online to do the same at their home.

The majority of the 50 other men were found guilty of aggravated rape and received between three and 15 years.

Gisele Pelicot looked directly at every defendant as they stood in the court and were found guilty, then sentenced.

The three-month trial has turned Gisele Pelicot into a feminist icon.

She said she was fighting for “all those people around the world, women and men, who are victims of sexual violence”.

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