Gisèle Pelicot breaks down in tears as women across France thank her for courage

Emerging as a global icon of strength and feminism, Gisele Pelicot drew daily crowds to the 15-week Avignon trial, where supporters gathered with signs to champion her courage and demand justice. Ms Pelicot said their presence gave her strength as she endured what she described as humiliating and painful proceedings inside. Ms Pelicot's ex-husband Dominique Pelicot was jailed for 20 years for drugging and raping her and allowing other men to rape her while she was unconscious, in abuse which lasted nearly a decade. The 73-year-old, who waived her right to anonymity as a survivor of sexual abuse, said shame should fall on her abusers, not her.