The French Gisèle Pelicot (72) is being appointed Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honor. This is the highest distinction in France. Pelicot is internationally praised for her courage in a major rape case.
For years, Pelicot was drugged by her former husband Dominique Pelicot, who had her raped by dozens of men. Her ex and fifty other men were sentenced to three to twenty years in prison last year.
The rape case drew worldwide attention because of its scale and because the victim stepped out of anonymity. The court had advised Pelicot to handle the case behind closed doors.
But she felt it should be public. This includes allowing the media to use her full name and showing images of her rapes in the courtroom.
Pelicot made the choice “in solidarity with other women who are not recognized as victims of sexual offenses.” She hopes that her case will ensure that “no one ever has to experience this again.” She also emphasized that “shame must switch sides.” Not the victim, but the perpetrator should be ashamed.
The Pelicot Case:
Pelicot is one of the nearly six hundred people who will be honored with the Légion d’Honneur this year. People receive this award if they have committed themselves “to the public good.” The list of appointments was announced on Sunday in the run-up to July 14, the French National Day.