Gisèle Pelicot receives France’s highest honour
Gisèle Pelicot, who became a symbol of women’s rights in France during the rape trial against her ex-husband and dozens of accomplices, received the greatest civic honor in France.
Pelicot was appointed knight of the Legion of Honor on a list published in the official Gazette on Sunday.
The former Pelicot-Mari was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the end of last year for aggravated rape, in a historic case that horrified France and the world, and rekindled the debate on criminal legislation on sexual violence.
Dominique Pelicot has repeatedly drugized his wife, mistreated him and offered him to dozens of foreigners to rape over a period of almost 10 years.
A court in the south of the French city of Avignon also sentenced 50 co-accused in December to prison terms ranging from three to 15 years.
Gisèle Pelicot had insisted that the trial was held in public to ensure that the rape and the abuse of women have become the center of public debate far beyond France.
