Gisele Pelicot, a 72-year-old French woman who became a symbol of courage and feminist resistance, has been awarded France’s highest civilian honour, the Legion of Honour, for her public testimony in a mass rape case that shocked the nation and led to legal reform. She was among 589 recipients named on Sunday to receive the prestigious award.
Pelicot was named a Knight of the Legion of Honour in a list released ahead of France’s National Day on July 14. She gained international recognition in 2024 for bravely testifying in court against her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, who drugged and raped her repeatedly over a decade and orchestrated her assault by dozens of other men. She attended nearly every day of the trial, which ended last December.
In a landmark ruling, a court in Avignon sentenced Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape, and 50 co-defendants received prison terms ranging from 3 to 15 years. The case is considered one of the most significant rulings on sexual violence in recent French history.
Pelicot’s testimony, described as both heart breaking and courageous, reignited a nationwide conversation about sexual violence, victims' rights, and the legal definition of consent in France.
Her insistence on holding the proceedings publicly played a key role in pressuring lawmakers to reform the country's rape laws, formally incorporating the concept of consent as a defining element of the crime of rape.
Since the trial, Pelicot has remained largely out of the public eye. According to her lawyer, she is currently working on a memoir set for release in 2026, where she will tell her story in her own words.
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Her actions have inspired widespread rallies, media tributes, and global support. She has been featured in several international lists of the world’s most influential people, with activists and survivors lauding her for exposing long-standing issues of drug-facilitated sexual assault and the judicial system’s treatment of victims.
Gisele Pelicot’s bravery continues to serve as a rallying point in the fight for justice, reform, and dignity for survivors of sexual violence in France and around the world. [Rh/VP]
