France: Recently, a powerful protest erupted in Paris as thousands of women and men took to the streets of Paris demanding action against the rising tide of gender-based violence in France. The protest, which reportedly took place in front of the famous Louvre Pyramid, featured topless women demanding action against sexual violence and inequality.
Videos and photos circulating online showed demonstrators holding placards and chanting slogans. The placards carried the messages “Stop the war on women” and “Freedom of life for women” while the police stood and watched in silence.
Who Is Dominique Pelicot? Why The Protest?
The catalyst for this mass demonstration was the recent harrowing case of Gisele Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot and a group of other men. This shocking incident has led to widespread protests across France, with demonstrators calling for strict government action.
Asianet Newsable quoted Mayle Noir, a representative of the feminist group Nous Tous as saying, “Unfortunately, the perpetrator of violence can be anyone: our brother, our father, our colleague. It can even be our boss.” She further highlighted the point that ‘It is not written on anybody’s face that they are a rapist.’Even Men were reportedly spotted participating in the protests, standing in solidarity against gender-based violence.
Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Prison Sentence For Dominique Pelicot
French prosecutors on Monday demanded a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail for Gisele’s ex-husband Dominique Pelicot who drugged and raped his wife while enabling her abuse by at least 70 strangers over a decade.
This demand comes after the French government introduced new measures to combat violence against women, including increased awareness regarding the use of drugs in sexual assaults.
Assistant state prosecutor Laure Chabaud remarked that the sentence sought against Pelicot was “at the same time long but not long enough given the gravity of the facts that were committed and repeated”.
