(This story contains references to rape/domestic violence/sexual assault/abuse.)
TRANSCRIPT
(Sound – singing and applause)
A round of applause for Gisele Pelicot.
The 72-year-old retiree, from a small town in France, walked into a court room 16 weeks ago as an ordinary woman.
Today, she walks out as a global feminist hero.
France, alongside the rest of the world, watched with horror as 51 men were put on trial on charges of raping Ms Pelicot with the help of her now ex-husband.
He admitted to drugging Ms Pelicot for years, recruiting men online to have sex with her while she was unconscious, and filming the encounters.
Ms Pelicot says the support she received going public with the case, has given her strength.
“It's with profound emotion that I speak today before you. This trial was a very difficult ordeal and in this moment, I think, firstly, about my three children, David, Caroline and Florian. I also think about my grand children because they are the future and it is also for them that I led this fight but also my daughters-in-law, Aurore and Céline.”
On social media, Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez hailed Ms Pelicot, repeating the French slogan, 'shame must change sides'.
While Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz saluted her bravery.
Speaking out for the last time today as a Pelicot, Gisele says she kept the name during the trial so her grandchildren, who bear the name, could be proud of her rather than ashamed of their grandfather.
"By opening the doors of this trial on September 2, I wanted all of society to be a witness to the debates that took place here. I never regretted making this decision. I have trust in our capacity to collectively project ourselves towards a future where all, women and men, can live in harmony, with respect and mutual understanding.”
Her husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum for his crime.
For a decade, his crimes went unnoticed.
He was only caught when a security guard reported him to police for taking photographs under women's skirts in a supermarket.
Upon investigation, police uncovered 20,000 videos and photographs documenting the abuse of Ms Pelicot.
They're yet to identify all the perpetrators - meaning dozens are still at large.
As for the other men on trial, 47 were convicted of rape, two of attempted rape and two of sexual assault.
Some received jail terms of between three and 15 years.
While three men have walked free after completing suspended sentences.
French legal expert, Catherine Le Magueresse says she was surprised by the verdict.
"I would like to remind you that today the average sentence for rape is around 11 years and a few months, so that means that we are below the average sentence handed down, even though we have been constantly told that this was an extraordinary trial and that the way in which the accused had raped was particularly despicable.”
It has sparked outrage among many activists.
Though others say the publicity has been impactful enough.
“It's not really a question of verdict, but it was more the idea of publicising this trial and publicising the message that this trial conveys, which is that of the 'good family man'. As we could see. This is because there is no typical profile. It's everyone, all the time, everywhere.”
The men, aged 26 to 74, worked in jobs including nursing, the military, journalism and in the prison system.
The case has now put France's laws surrounding rape in the spotlight.
According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, rape is defined as 'any act of sexual penetration, of any nature whatsoever, committed against another person by violence, constraint, threat or surprise'.
But there's been a growing push to include consent in that definition - led by French Senator Mélanie Vogel.
She first proposed the change nearly a year ago but until now, those calls had failed to gain momentum.
Many of the men in the trial did not admit guilt, saying the consent of Dominique, not Gisele, was enough to carry out their crimes.
Ms Le Magueresse says the law needs to change but says this case alone may not be enough to see that happen.
"Will there be a before or after the Pelicot trial? It's much too early to say. I think that the fact that this trial was regularly presented by the press as an extraordinary trial also makes it easy to distance oneself from it, that is to say that the magistrates, especially the lawyers, could say that it was such a particular trial that it only reflects itself and that it is not representative of the other rapes.”
What is certain, Ms Pelicot is sure to be remembered as a changemaker for a long time to come.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
