Gisèle Pelicot

Gisèle Pelicot (French: [ʒizɛl peliko] ^ⓘ; born 7 December 1952) is a French woman who was covertly drugged and raped by her husband Dominique Pelicot on numerous occasions over a nine-year period between 2011 and 2020. Dominique also invited dozens of men, contacted through a website, to rape her while she was unconscious, mostly in the couple's home in Mazan. Gisèle only became aware of the abuse in 2020, when Dominique was arrested for upskirting women in a local supermarket and a police search of his computer equipment revealed images of her being raped.

When Dominique and fifty other men went on trial for aggravated rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault in Avignon in 2024, Gisèle waived her right to anonymity and a trial behind closed doors. The trial attracted worldwide media attention, and Gisèle's courage and determination to speak out on behalf of all victims of sexual assault won her widespread international support and admiration. She became a feminist icon and featured in the BBC's 2024 list of 100 women of the year and the Financial Times list of the 25 most influential women of the year.

In December 2024, 50 of the 51 men on trial, including Dominique, were convicted of raping, attempting to rape, and sexually assaulting Gisèle. The 51st man, who had not been charged with raping Gisèle, was convicted of raping his own wife. Dominique received the maximum 20-year sentence, while the other convicted men received 3- to 15-year sentences.