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Today – December 19th—a French court found Dominique Pelicot guilty of not only drugging and raping his wife repeatedly for over ten years…but inviting dozens of men between the ages of 24 and 74--from seemingly normal walks-of- life--to rape Gisèle while she was unconscious!
“All the Frenchman's 50 co-defendants were also found guilty of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault, while their victim, Gisèle Pelicot, sat in the packed courtroom to hear the sentencing, having waived her right to anonymity,” writes Juliette Jabkhiro for Reuters.
"This trial was a very difficult ordeal," Gisèle said in her first comments at the end of the sentencing, adding that she did not regret her decision to let the case be heard in public.
Good lord, who is this extraordinary woman who waived her right to anonymity in order to bring this landmark mass rape case and all its sordid evidence to trial, and after the verdict was read said, "I now have confidence in our ability to collectively seize a future in which each woman and man can live in harmony with respect and mutual understanding. I thank you."
Reporting for NBC News, Linda Hervieux shares, “In her final statement to the court, Pelicot made it clear that she is hoping her humiliation won’t be in vain. “It’s time that the macho, patriarchal society that trivializes rape changes.”
The more I read about this case—and there’s plenty of Googleable content out there if you’re interested—the more it got me thinking about global rape laws in general. In the United States, rape laws vary by state, but federal law groups rape with other non-consensual sexual acts.
Perhaps if the government acknowledged this gross violation of both women's and human rights and used the term "rape", it might send a more powerful message than the intellectualized version that currently exists.
But the federal government does not use the term "rape". Instead, it classifies rape as a non-consensual sexual act under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2241–2248. The punishment for rape can range from a fine to life imprisonment. The severity of the punishment depends on the age of the victim, whether violence was used, and whether drugs or alcohol were used. The federal age of consent is 16, while the age of consent is usually around 18 under state laws.
Some states consider non-consensual penetrative sex to be rape, even if the perpetrator didn't use force. Other states require some form of force or coercion, such as physical violence, threats, or other forms of coercion. Some states also recognize non-penetrative sex acts as rape without force.
My research also led me to the site, Equality Now- A just world for women and girls which states that, “Despite global commitments to combat sexual violence, legal systems across various regions continue to fall short in protecting survivors and ensuring justice, highlighting seven critical ways these laws are failing, perpetuating cycles of violence and discrimination:
Laws Allowing Perpetrators to Walk Free Through Settlements, Including Marriage
Laws Framed in Terms of Morality, Not Bodily Integrity
Laws Explicitly Permitting Marital Rape
Judicial Discretion Rooted in Stereotypes
Failure to Recognize True Consent in Situations of Dependency or Vulnerability
Inhibiting Investigation and Prosecution
Burden of Corroboration and Evidence
For a more in-depth explanation of each of these seven points, I encourage you to click the link above. The information is enlightening and shocking!
It’s a sad fact that it takes something as hideous as the Pelicot case to bring these gross inequities to light...and yet, it is through the courage of women like Gisèle Pelicot and others like her, who are the catalysts for real change.
“The “Gisèle effect” extends beyond Avignon, where the retired logistics manager is applauded and handed bouquets of flowers,” shares Linda Hervieux. “Schoolgirls call her name. Strangers send gifts. In a phenomenon that must be deeply satisfying to the woman who wanted “shame to change sides,” activists say women who hadn’t dared speak about domestic violence and sexual assault credit Pelicot with giving them courage to share their stories.