What's happened
Gisèle Pelicot, 72, publicly testifies against her husband, Dominique Pelicot, who drugged her and invited men to rape her over nearly a decade. Her trial, which began on September 2, has sparked national outrage and discussions on sexual violence in France.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Gisèle Pelicot described her husband as the 'perfect man' before discovering his betrayal, stating, 'I am a woman who is totally destroyed.' This sentiment echoes throughout the coverage, with Metro highlighting her bravery in facing her attackers publicly. SBS notes that Pelicot's insistence on a public trial aims to help other victims, emphasizing that 'they (rapists) are the ones who must be ashamed.' The coverage collectively underscores the societal outrage and the need for change in how sexual violence is addressed in France.
How we got here
Gisèle Pelicot's case came to light in 2020 when her husband was arrested for unrelated offenses. Investigations revealed extensive evidence of his abuse, leading to a trial that has captivated and horrified the nation.
More on these topics
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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Dominique Pélicot, a 71-year-old from Mazan in south-eastern France, is accused of repeatedly drugging his wife and inviting strangers to rape her while she was unconscious. Over a period of nine years from July 2011 to October 2020 Gisèle Pélicot, who