Gisèle Pélicot ‘honoured’ to wear scarf from Australian women’s organisation as public rape trial continues

Sexual assault survivor said she is honoured to wear a scarf that was sent to her from an Australian advocacy organisation, as the public rape trial against her husband and 50 other men continues in France. Dominique Pélicot, Gisèle’s husband, has pleaded guilty to repeatedly drugging and raping Gisèle over the course of nearly 10 years, from 2011-2020. An investigation found Dominique would also invite strangers into their home to rape her.

There were at least 200 instances of rape committed by 50 accused men, who Dominique allegedly recruited online, the court has heard. Recently, the (OWN) in Australia sent Gisèle a scarf that was crafted by First Nations woman Mulyatingki Marney, to show the organisation’s solidarity with her. The is named for the moon in Manyjiljarra, a region in north-west Western Australia.

is also the name of the site depicted in Marney’s work. It has a cluster of saltwater pools known for their healing properties by Martu people. Gisèle said she is “very honoured to wear it”, and speaking on behalf of her outside of the Avignon court on Wednesday, her lawyer Stéphane Babonneau told reporters she was “touched” with the gesture from OWN.

“She was very touched to receive the scarf and see that on the issue of violence against women, even in Australia on the other side of the world, women feel the same way, and that there is a connection that unites women across the world in standing up against violence against women, and particularly sexual violence,” Babonneau said. Yumi Lee, the CEO of OWN, told that her organisation stands with Gisèle every step of the way. “By going public, Gisele has enabled us to talk about rape culture and shine the light on sexual violence,” Lee said.

“The fact that she is an older woman enables our organisation to emphasise that sexual violence knows no age barrier.” The found sexual violence against older people, particularly older women, was “far from uncommon” and a “national shame”. According to the inquiry’s findings, there were 50 incidents of sexual assaults in aged care .

“From birth to death, women are subjected to violence,” Lee said. “Yet, all that reporting and statistics go into a black hole. There is no transparency and accountability to keep older women safe.

” On Wednesday, the court heard evidence from accused rapist Romain V. The 63-year-old is one of the 50 men who Dominique Pélicot allegedly recruited online to rape his wife, Gisèle. Prosecutors allege Romain raped Gisèle at least six times over the course of six months, between 2019-2020.

He was HIV positive and, aware of his diagnosis, allegedly raped Gisèle. Romain denies the allegation of rape, saying “her husband invited me in” and believing that was consent enough to have sex with Gisèle. Video evidence played in the courtroom shows Gisèle snoring loudly and Romain smiling, before he commits the alleged crime, reports say.

At the request of Gisèle, in order to “raise awareness” and to ensure “events like these never happen again”, the rape trial has been public since it began on September 2. Gisèle said she has been left “totally destroyed” by the “unbelievably violent” decade-long abuse, allegedly perpetrated by her husband and dozens of strange men. But the 72-year-old refuses to be ashamed.

“I’ve decided not to be ashamed,” Gisèle told the court. “I’ve done nothing wrong. “They (the alleged rapists) are the ones who must be ashamed.

”.