The Horror of Gisèle Pélicot’s Decade of Abuse and Community Complicity – the men involved, included neighbours and community members … a local councillor, nurses, a journalist, a former police officer, a prison guard, a soldier, a firefighter, and a civil servant.
The harrowing story of Gisèle Pélicot is an ugly reminder of the pervasive and insidious nature of sexual violence against women. Over the course of a decade, Gisèle was drugged and raped by her husband, Dominique Pélicot, who invited over 80 men to participate in the abuse. This case, which has shocked France and the world, highlights the urgent need to address the systemic issues that allow such atrocities to occur and persist.
Gisèle’s ordeal began to unravel in November 2020 when police investigated her husband’s computer after he was caught filming up the skirts of women in a supermarket. What they found was a file labelled “abuses” containing 20,000 images and videos of Gisèle being raped nearly 100 times. The footage revealed a decade of sexual abuse orchestrated by her husband, who had been drugging her to the point of unconsciousness.
The horror of Gisèle’s story is compounded by the fact that the men who participated in the rapes were not strangers from distant places but individuals from her own community. Among the accused are a local councillor, nurses, a journalist, a former police officer, a prison guard, a soldier, a firefighter, and a civil servant. These men, who lived within a few miles of her home, did not seek confirmation of consent, despite her being unconscious. Not one of them questioned the situation or reported it, even when some of them were aware of the risks of transmitting sexually transmitted diseases.
This case highlights the pervasive issue of “not all men” – a phrase often used to deflect responsibility and minimise the problem of gender-based violence. While it is true that not all men perpetrate such violence, the complicity and silence of those who do not act against it are equally damning. The men involved in Gisèle’s abuse were not just passive bystanders, they were active participants who chose to ignore the glaring signs of non-consent and the humanity of their victim.
The medical community also played a role in allowing the abuse to continue. Gisèle sought medical help for gynaecological issues, memory loss, and other symptoms, but her concerns were dismissed as “female hysteria” or “female troubles.” This medical misogyny prevented her from receiving the help she needed and allowed her husband to continue his abuse unchecked.
Gisèle’s strength in testifying against her abusers is remarkable. She waived her right to anonymity to ensure the trial was held in public, hoping her testimony might help spare other women from similar ordeals. She described the horror of seeing herself in the footage, drugged and motionless, and the profound betrayal she felt from her husband and the men who participated in the abuse. Her courage in facing her abusers and sharing her story is a powerful act of solidarity with other victims of sexual violence.
The case of Gisèle Pélicot is a call for society to confront the reality of sexual violence and the complicity that allows it to persist. It is not enough to say “not all men” and wash our hands of responsibility. Men must actively join the fight against gender-based violence, recognising that it is their silence and inaction that enable such horrors to continue. The fact that 72 men, including neighbours and community members, participated in, or turned a blind eye to Gisèle’s abuse is a damning indictment of societal attitudes towards women and consent.
We must stop telling women that “not all men” are perpetrators and start holding all men accountable for their role in perpetuating a culture of violence and silence. Gisèle’s story is a painful reminder that women are never truly safe, even in their own homes and communities. It is time for men to step up, speak out, and take action to ensure that no woman will ever have to endure the horrors that Gisèle Pélicot faced.
If you have experienced coercive and controlling behaviour, any form of violence, psychical, sexual or psychological, please reach out to the following services ….
Women’s Aid – call 1800 341 900
An Garda Siochana – call 999 / 112
Rape Crisis Centre – call 1800 77 8888
