Gisele Pelicot, a French woman who was raped by many men, thinks that the trial will help other women

Mass rape victim Gisele Pelicot, 72, told a trial in southern France on Wednesday that she was determined that making her case public would help other women and change society. Her story has shocked the world.

Dominique Pelicot, her husband, has admitted that he drugged her and then let dozens of people into their house to rape her over the course of almost ten years. Fifty more guys are also on trial for raping her.

In court, Gisele Pelicot said that what happened to her had killed her. Her voice often shook with emotion as she spoke. It was “unbelievably violent” for her that many of the people on trial (which began on September 2) said they thought she agreed to the rapes or was pretending to be asleep.

Avignon’s court heard from Gisele Pelicot, who has become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence. “I’ve decided not to be ashamed, I’ve done nothing wrong,” she said.

She explained that she demanded the trial be open to the public and not kept secret to protect the rape victim, as is common practice, so that it would help other rape victims.

“They should be ashamed,” she said, adding that showing videos of some of the rapes she had been through during her trial was “very difficult but necessary.”

“I’m not expressing hatred or hate, but I am determined that things change in this society,” Gisele said.

France has held protests to show support for Gisele Pelicot, and many women have said they admire her bravery.

“Not bravery. “The will to change things,” she said. “This is not just my battle, but that of all rape victims.”

Most of the people who were charged told the court that Dominique Pelicot had lied to them and manipulated them. They refused to blame him. Only a few people have said they raped Gisele Pelicot.

Some people have said sorry.

“I hear those apologies, but I can’t make them out,” she told the judge. “By apologising, they are trying to excuse themselves.”

Gisele Pelicot told the court, “I’m a woman who’s totally destroyed.” She said her husband’s betrayal of her trust was infinite.

She told the court that she thought he would make a great husband and then added, “My life has fallen apart.”