A French case involving decades of sexual abuse, known as the Pelicot case or the Mazan rape case, has garnered international attention following the publication of a memoir by the victim, Gisèle Pelicot. The case, centered around systematic abuse perpetrated with the assistance of her husband, Dominique Pelicot, highlights the challenges of recognizing and prosecuting complex sexual violence.
Between July 2011 and October 2020, Dominique Pelicot allegedly drugged his wife and either sexually assaulted her himself or invited other men to do so although she was unconscious. The abuse took place in and around Mazan, in southern France. He reportedly advertised opportunities for sexual assault on the website Coco.gg, which has since been shut down, attracting an estimated 500,000 visits per month prior to its closure.
The scale of the abuse was revealed through approximately 20,000 photographs and videos documenting an estimated 83 different men participating in 92 separate assaults. On December 19, 2024, a French court convicted 47 individuals of rape and four others of related offenses. The case is considered one of the most significant and widely publicized legal proceedings in France in recent years.
Despite the convictions, the case continues to generate discussion in France, with some questioning the response to Pelicot’s ordeal. As reported by the BBC on October 5, 2025, Gisèle Pelicot was back in court facing one of her attackers who was appealing the original verdict. Some local officials have attempted to downplay the severity of the case, with the mayor of Mazan previously stating that “no-one was killed” and no children were involved. This sentiment has sparked criticism and raised concerns about the societal response to sexual violence.
Recent reviews of Gisèle Pelicot’s memoir emphasize its healing power and its potential to shed light on the dynamics of sexual violence committed by men. The publication of her story is seen by some as a catalyst for further discussion and change. The development underscores the ongoing need for awareness and support for survivors of sexual assault, and the complexities of addressing such crimes within legal and social frameworks.
