Gisele Pelicot

Gisele Pelicot is a 73-year-old French woman and survivor of severe spousal abuse. For nearly a decade, she was repeatedly drugged, abused, and offered to strangers for rape by her then-husband. Pelicot is newsworthy due to her advocacy for changing mindsets to combat sexual violence. She believes education, respect, and empathy are crucial for achieving this. Her case is also being referenced in connection to other similar cases, such as the recent trial in Germany of a Chinese student accused of drugging and raping his girlfriend. The parallels between the cases highlight the ongoing problem of sexual violence and the need for systemic change, as emphasized by the UN rights chief's recent condemnation of violence against women as a global emergency.