🔗 Share this article As Gisèle Pelicot encounters one of her assailants in court, what has changed within the country? For over a decade, Gisèle Pelicot's spouse administered drugs to her and allowed other men to arrive at their dwelling and violate her while she was unaware. The nation's mass rape victim, Gisèle Pelicot, is reappearing before the judiciary this week to confront one of her attackers, the only man who is contesting the prior year's court decision in which a total of 51 accused were convicted of assaulting her as she was, under the influence, administered by her partner in their family home. Back then, the survivor's public resistance was viewed as a potential trigger in the battle against sexual violence. However across the nation, that hope looks to be diminishing. "I am going to harm you unless you depart immediately," threatened a person located by a historic church in the community, the picturesque town where Gisele and Dominique Pelicot had their home. He happened to hear me inquiring with a senior resident about the effect of the Pelicot case on France and, while threatening to destroy our equipment too, was now stating that the town was tired of being associated with one of the world's most notorious sexual assault cases. An individual from the area is of the opinion that the proceedings has helped women express themselves openly. A few days earlier, the local official had issued a more diplomatic statement of the identical viewpoint, in a public statement that depicted Gisèle Pelicot's extended trauma as "a personal situation… that has nothing to do with us." It is easy to comprehend Mayor Louis Bonnet's wish to defend the locality's standing and its tourism industry. Yet it should be pointed out that a previous period, he'd garnered attention across France after he'd repeatedly informed me, in an discussion, that he aimed to "downplay" the severity of the individual's trauma because "no lives were lost", and youth were not affected. Additionally it should be mentioned that the vast majority of the ladies we were able to interview in the community last week held a different view from the leader's intention to regard the proceedings as, primarily, something to "get past." Lighting up in a shaded doorway close to the church, a 33-year-old civil servant, who identified herself as the individual, communicated with clear frustration. "People no longer discuss it, including in this town. It seems like it never occurred. I know someone going through family abuse at this moment. Yet ladies keep it secret. They are scared of the persons who engage in such behavior," she stated, noting that she was "convinced" that additional Gisèle Pelicot's rapists had not been caught, and at large, in the community. Moving through the area past a couple of sunbathing cats, another resident, 68, was just as eager to converse, but took a different view of the Pelicot case. "The world is evolving. The country is advancing." Due to the survivor's actions? "Yes. It's been a boost, for women to express themselves openly," she told me, with conviction. Nationwide, there is certainty that the attention generated by Gisèle Pelicot's globally broadcast commitment that "shame should change sides" - from survivor to perpetrator – has given extra impetus to a movement opposing assault previously invigorated by the social initiative. "I would say modifying actions is something that takes generations. [But] the Pelicot case sparked a massive, unprecedented movement… opposing assault, and combating lack of accountability," said a coordinator, who manages a alliance of numerous advocacy bodies in the nation. "We're focused on educating specialists, assisting survivors, on investigations." "Certainly, the nation has transformed. The cases of abuse has grown significantly, demonstrating that survivors – females of all ages – they voice their experiences and they want justice," agreed a spokesperson, spokesperson for the group promoting gender equality. However, the energy and optimism that surrounded Gisèle Pelicot at the end of the year, as she emerged from the courtroom and into a scrum of supporters, have not led to many substantive changes to the way the authorities handles the issue of sexual violence. The mayor of Mazan, the community where the rapes took place, has released a statement stating the attacks have "no connection to our community". Indeed, there is a widespread understanding among activists and specialists that conditions are, rather, declining. "Sadly, officials take no action," said the advocate, citing statistics indicating that rates of successful prosecutions are flat-lining in spite of a sharp rise in cases of assault. "The picture is bleak. There is a backlash. Rape culture ideas are coming back very strongly. This is evident in the male-centric groups becoming more prevalent, particularly among young boys and teenagers," added the coordinator,