Gisele Pelicot, the French woman who gained international attention for publicly testifying in a high-profile mass rape trial, has been awarded France’s highest distinction. The 72-year-old was named a Knight of the Legion of Honor, according to a list published ahead of France’s National Day.
Pelicot waived her right to anonymity in the trial against her husband, who drugged and raped her, and invited dozens of other men to abuse her for nearly a decade. She is among 589 individuals to receive this prestigious award.
Pelicot attended almost every day of the court proceedings, which concluded last December. Her 72-year-old husband, Dominique Pelicot, received the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for rape, after admitting to raping Gisele and recruiting approximately 50 men to rape her while she was unconscious in bed.
“I want all women who have been raped to say: Mrs. Pelicot made it, I can too,” she previously told reporters, explaining her decision to make the trial public to “shift the shame” from the victim to the perpetrator.
French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly honored her, stating that “her dignity and courage have inspired France and the world.” According to her lawyer, a book detailing Gisele Pelicot’s experiences is expected to be published early next year.
