Gisèle Pelicot’s daughter launches awareness campaign for potential victims of drugging and sexual assault

Gisèle Pelicot is the figurehead of a new campaign run by her daughter, Caroline Darian, aimed at encouraging individuals who suspect they have been drugged and sexually assaulted to come forward, even if they have little to no memory of the attack. This primetime public information campaign was launched on Monday across France’s television networks, social media, and in print.

Caroline Darian, 47, believes she was also drugged and assaulted by her father, Dominique Pelicot, who is Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the prevalence of drug-facilitated sexual assaults, emphasizing that in 75% of such cases, the perpetrator is a relative or friend. Gisèle Pelicot, now 73, became an international symbol of courage when she insisted that shame must change sides during her former husband’s trial, where he and dozens of other men were convicted of raping her while she was unconscious.

In video clips featured in the campaign, Gisèle Pelicot urges potential victims to contact the Centre of Excellence on Substance-Facilitated Assaults (CRAFS), which is affiliated with the Paris university hospital service (AP-HP). The center is staffed by experts who can guide victims on how to gather evidence.