51 Guilty Verdicts, One Global Icon: The Legacy of Gisèle Pelicot’s Courage

How one woman’s bravery shattered the silence of rape culture and exposed the ordinary men behind the devastating crimes.

Gisèle Pelicot has forced the world to stop and hear women’s voices, now the question is, will it finally act to end the male violence against them?

In the French city of Avignon yesterday, judges read out the names of 51 men, each followed by the word "GUILTY." The court revealed that, for nearly a decade, Gisèle Pelicot was unknowingly sedated by her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot. He admitted to raping her and inviting men he recruited online to assault her in their home while she lay unconscious and unaware.

This is a trial that has captured global attention, not just for exposing how Dominique Pelicot became one of history's most depraved sexual predators, but for the extraordinary courage of one woman. By waiving her anonymity to confront her husband and 50 men in court, Gisèle Pelicot not only brought these men to justice but also became a global symbol of resilience and strength, unveiling the prevalence of rape culture and need for men to act.

No amount of desensitisation can or …