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00:00Victims, we believe you. The words ring out across Place de la RĂ©publique as hundreds
00:05gather in support of GisĂšle Pellicot and all the rape victims in France.
00:10The 71-year-old has become a symbol of the country's fight against sexual violence, as
00:15her horrific ordeal came to light earlier this month.
00:20Since I learned about this scandal, I feel like vomiting all the time. I find it absolutely
00:24despicable what she went through. I'm completely terrified because if it can happen in such
00:30an intimate circle for years and no one realizes it, it's just completely terrifying.
00:38I think this story really illustrates the extent to which women are not heard and how
00:43they are not defended. It feels like people are only just discovering what rape is and
00:48that it happens every day, when it's actually always been like that.
00:52GisĂšle Pellicot's trial began on the 2nd of September, a public hearing as per her
00:57request. She has also allowed the court to exhibit explicit videos of the crimes, recorded
01:02by perpetrator and ex-husband Dominique Pellicot. Decisions, she says, were in solidarity with
01:08other victims, as much of the sexual violence committed is unreported and often goes unpunished,
01:13despite the several ways of the MeToo reckoning in France.
01:17It's very important for us to be there because we need to talk about the rape culture and
01:23the fact that after seven years of MeToo, we already know that there is not a special
01:30type of victim. But now, nowadays, we are collectively realizing that there is not a
01:37special type of rapist.
01:40Dominique Pellicot is expected to testify on Monday. He and 50 other defendants face
01:45up to 20 years in prison if convicted.