A powerful protest recently unfolded in Paris, where thousands of women and men took to the streets to demand action against the escalating issue of gender-based violence in France. The demonstration, held in front of the iconic Louvre Pyramid, featured topless women advocating for measures against sexual violence and inequality.
Videos and photos shared online depicted protesters holding placards with messages such as “Stop the war on women” and “Freedom of life for women,” while police observed quietly.
About Dominique Pelicot and Why Are People Protesting?
The catalyst for this mass demonstration was the disturbing case of Gisele Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, along with a group of other men. This shocking incident has sparked widespread outrage and protests across France, with demonstrators demanding firm government action.
Mayle Noir, a representative of the feminist group Nous Tous, expressed the sentiment that “the perpetrator of violence can be anyone: our brother, our father, our colleague. It can even be our boss.” She emphasized that “it is not written on anyone’s face that they are a rapist.” Men were also seen participating in the protests, standing in solidarity against gender-based violence.
20-Year Sentence for Dominique Pelicot
On Monday, French prosecutors called for a maximum 20-year prison sentence for Dominique Pelicot, who drugged and raped his wife while facilitating her abuse by at least 70 other men over a decade. This request comes in the wake of new government measures aimed at combating violence against women, including heightened awareness of drug use in sexual assaults.
Assistant state prosecutor Laure Chabaud stated that the sought sentence is “both long and not long enough given the severity of the repeated offenses committed.”
