Gisèle Pelicot

Gisèle Pélicot has become an international symbol of courage and dignity in the fight against sexual violence. She came to global attention during a landmark criminal trial in 2024 involving her ex-husband and dozens of co-defendants who were found guilty of raping and sexually abusing her over a ten-year period while she was repeatedly drugged without her knowledge.

Choosing to waive her legal right to anonymity, Gisèle Pélicot insisted that the trial be public, arguing that shame should belong to perpetrators, not victims. Her determination and composure transformed her into a powerful advocate for survivors and sparked worldwide conversations about consent, rape culture, and survivors’ rights.

The case contributed to a national debate on sexual violence in France, helping drive changes to the legal definition of rape. Gisèle Pélicot has since received numerous honours, including the Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award, France’s Légion d’honneur, and Spain’s Encomienda of the Order of Civil Merit. She was also named one of TIME’s Women of the Year and included in the BBC 100 Women list, The Independent‘s and the Financial Times‘s lists of the world’s most influential women.

Her memoir, A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides, was published around the world in February 2026 and became an instant New York Times and international bestseller. The New Yorker and The Economist have already selected it as one of its Best Books of 2026.