Gisele Pelicot celebrated as feminist hero in France

DW (English)

In France, Gisele Pelicot is demanding that videos of her being raped by dozens of men be shown in court. One of the assailants was her husband, who drugged her. Other survivors of drug-induced rape are inspired by her strength.

Transcript

00:00A scenario that can quickly turn into a nightmare, when drugs are used to force sex.

00:14Known as chemical submission, the most common substances are so-called knockout drops, sleeping

00:20pills or ecstasy.

00:22In France, dozens of men are currently standing trial for this crime and more victims are

00:27speaking out publicly, including survivors like 63-year-old Anne.

00:32As a child, she was drugged and raped by her own father and other men for years.

00:38You're constantly feeling danger, like you're going crazy.

00:45For a child, the family is their entire world.

00:48I always thought it was my fault, I thought that I deserved it, that I was dirty and perverted.

00:57I really despised myself during my childhood and I was also deteriorating health-wise.

01:03I had a lot of illnesses and I was suicidal.

01:07At that time, I repeatedly tried to take my own life.

01:12For legal reasons, Anne cannot reveal her last name, but it's important to her to publicly

01:17speak about what happened.

01:22She felt empowered by the strength displayed by Gisele Pellicot in her own rape trial.

01:27The 71-year-old survivor was drugged and raped by her now ex-husband and at least 70 other

01:32men for nearly 10 years.

01:35Her husband even filmed the assaults.

01:38Gisele Pellicot insisted on a public trial and that the videos be shown as evidence.

01:45It's so courageous to be holding a public trial, which is rare in these cases.

01:53The whole world sees this beautiful, elegant woman with her head held high, despite being

02:00completely destroyed on the inside, as she has said.

02:04And now the shame, the horror, it's their burden, her husband and the other defendants.

02:11Actually the shame is not with the victim, but with the rapists.

02:20The Pellicot trial has also led to political changes.

02:25The French government has created a new commission on chemical submission.

02:29It's being chaired by Zandrine Jossot, a member of parliament.

02:35This is a very important moment.

02:37This is the first seminar on chemical submission in the National Assembly.

02:40There are doctors and many other people here today.

02:43We're heading in the right direction.

02:52Jossot speaks about the newly founded commission from the parliament building.

02:57Many people are hoping for greater societal awareness on rape culture.

03:01Bravo, we need politicians like you.

03:05Politicians who aren't scared to speak up for women.

03:09Thank you, that's very kind, thank you.

03:15Have a nice day.

03:21The committee finally wants official numbers on cases of chemical submission, and the possibility

03:27to quickly conduct blood tests.

03:30This is still very complicated in many parts of France.

03:33We should train doctors accordingly, and we need better laws to support the victims

03:38who are suffering in silence in finding some peace of mind, and to heal.

03:44When you are raped, a part of you dies.

03:49Zandrine Jossot herself has also experienced this.

03:52A year ago, a senator poured ecstasy into her glass, she says.

03:57She barely managed to escape the situation.

04:01Together with other women and colleagues, Jossot was debating how to strip the senator

04:05and anyone else accused of chemical submission of their honorary titles, as a warning.

04:13But she also gets targeted for her advocacy.

04:19They want to intimidate me.

04:23Recently I was at the train station, suddenly a man approached me and told me to leave the

04:28senator alone.

04:30But I have to defend myself, and I need to speak for all those who can't.

04:36The Pélico trial needs to push our country forward.

04:44Anne hopes that the statute of limitations on rape, currently 20 years in France, will

04:48finally be abolished.

04:50Because it would have taken decades for her to build up the strength to take someone to

04:54court.

04:58Because of the Pélico trial, people are beginning to understand the extent of chemical submission,

05:04and that it happens to young people, even children.

05:08And that means there is no justification for a statute of limitations.

05:12I hope that my father is afraid.

05:14I want him to realize that times are changing.

05:19Anne says that, when the perpetrators are made accountable for their actions, their

05:23victims' wounds can finally heal.

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