Gisèle Pelicot (73), the French woman who was drugged by her husband for years and raped by dozens of men, has found love again. She said this on Saturday during an emotional conversation at the Hay Festival in Wales. “I didn’t think I would ever be able to trust a man again, but I did. You should never lose hope,” she said.
Journalist at HLN
Source: The Guardian
Pelicot became a worldwide symbol in the fight against violence against women after it came to light how her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot drugged her for years and invited men to rape her while she was unconscious. The man was sentenced to twenty years in prison two years ago.
During her visit to the famous literature and culture festival, Gisèle Pelicot spoke openly about her life after the trial. There she said that she fell in love again. “It’s something I never thought could happen, especially at my age,” she said. “Initially I didn’t really want to fall in love anymore, but life decided otherwise.”
According to Pelicot, their paths crossed at an unexpected moment. “I met this young man of 73,” she said. “You can fall in love at any age. It happened to me, so it can happen to anyone.”
Memoirs
The French activist was present at the festival to present her memoir ‘Et la joie de vivre’. In it she looks back on the horror she experienced for years. She called it “an absolute miracle” that she can stand on a podium again today. “The way Dominique anesthetized me was so extreme that I wonder how my heart and body could have endured this for so long,” Pelicot said.
Her daughter Caroline Darian was also discussed. She is taking legal action against Dominique Pelicot herself. Footage found at his home showed Caroline unconscious on a bed, wearing underwear that was not hers. According to Gisèle, there was “an incestuous attitude towards his daughter that was unacceptable”.
She emphasized that her daughter “did not find justice” during the trial and hopes that she can continue to build her life through her own case.