Gisèle Pelicot, a 73-year-old French woman, has opened up about the shocking abuse she endured at the hands of her former husband in a powerful memoir that has captured international attention. What she once believed was a stable, loving marriage was in fact a decade of drug-facilitated sexual violence that only came to light after a police investigation uncovered disturbing evidence. Her story of survival, courage and eventual renewal is now fueling global conversations about consent, trauma and the strength to reclaim one’s life.
Unmasking Hidden Abuse in a Long-Standing Marriage
For nearly ten years, Pelicot’s then-husband, Dominique, systematically sedated her with prescription drugs and invited dozens of men to sexually assault her while she was unconscious. The crimes were uncovered in 2020, after Dominique was arrested for unrelated offences and authorities found thousands of videos and photos documenting the abuse. At trial in 2024, he and 50 men were convicted; Dominique received a 20-year prison sentence, while others faced terms of varying lengths. Pelicot’s decision to waive anonymity and let the trial be public was a deliberate choice to shine a light on “chemical submission” — a form of drug-assisted sexual violence that often remains hidden.
In confronting the disturbing truth, Pelicot had to face the harrowing reality that many of those convicted came from different walks of life — challenging assumptions about who perpetrators can be. Her insistence on public accountability was aimed at breaking silence around such crimes and encouraging other survivors to speak out.
Memoir of Trauma, Resilience and Advocacy
Pelicot’s memoir, released in February 2026 in more than 20 languages, offers readers an unflinching look at her emotional journey — from disbelief and grief to resilience and self-discovery. It recounts her shock at learning the extent of the abuse, the profound impact it had on her sense of self, and her struggle to reconcile her past with her present.
Beyond the brutality of her experiences, Pelicot shares how support from women around the world brought unexpected solace and helped fuel her role as an advocate for other survivors. She also reveals the personal healing that followed, including finding love again with a new partner, underscoring her message that life and connection can flourish again after unimaginable trauma.
Legacy and Broader Impact on Society
Pelicot’s choice to tell her story publicly has reverberated beyond her own life. Her case helped prompt legal reforms in France that clarify and strengthen consent-based definitions of sexual assault, reshaping how such crimes are understood and prosecuted. The memoir has sparked conversations worldwide about the nature of sexual violence, victim-blaming and societal responsibility.
Despite ongoing questions within her own family and lingering investigations into additional crimes by her ex-husband, Pelicot stands firm in her belief that survivors should never shoulder shame. Her journey from victim to vocal advocate — and her call for collective change — continues to resonate with readers and activists internationally.
