Key facts
- Caroline Darian, daughter of Gisèle Pelicot, launched a campaign to help victims of drugging and sexual assault.
- The campaign features short video clips broadcast across France on television, social media, and in print.
- Gisèle Pelicot, who became a symbol of courage during her ex-husband's trial, supports the campaign.
- Gisèle Pelicot stated that in 75% of sexual abuse cases while drugged, the perpetrator is a relative or friend.
- Victims are urged to contact the Centre of Excellence on Substance-Facilitated Assaults (CRAFS) for support and guidance on evidence collection.
- Dominique Pelicot, Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband, was convicted of drugging and raping his wife and inviting strangers to abuse her.
Caroline Darian, daughter of Gisèle Pelicot, has launched a nationwide campaign in France to encourage victims of drugging and sexual assault to come forward, even if they have little to no memory of the events. The campaign, which includes short video clips broadcast across French television networks, social media, and print, aims to combat the shame and fear often associated with such assaults. Gisèle Pelicot, who became an international symbol of courage during the trial of her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, is lending her support to the initiative. She stated that in 75% of cases of sexual abuse while drugged, the perpetrator is a relative or friend. The campaign urges individuals who suspect they have been victims to contact the Centre of Excellence on Substance-Facilitated Assaults (CRAFS), which is affiliated with the Paris university hospital service (AP-HP) and staffed by experts who can advise on potential evidence and how to obtain it. Darian, founder of the association Mendorspas (Don’t Put Me to Sleep), emphasized the powerful message sent by her mother's backing and expressed hope for victims to regain their footing. The trial of Dominique Pelicot two years ago, where he was convicted along with 50 other men for drugging and raping his wife and inviting strangers to abuse her, brought widespread attention to drug-facilitated sexual abuse (DFSA). Darian told Le Parisien that memory loss does not preclude the possibility of finding traces or conducting tests, and the campaign's goal is to empower victims to reclaim their narratives without shame or fear of disbelief from authorities or their social circles. She highlighted the unprecedented scale of the campaign for an issue that was not widely recognized as a public health concern until recently, noting the Mazan trial as a significant turning point.