Sugar and stress relief: Support for French rape victim at trial

Gisele Pelicot (left), with her lawyers Stephane Babonneau (right) and Antoine Camus (right), leaves the Avignon courthouse in between the hearing of her former partner Dominique Pelicot, who is accused of drugging her and inviting strangers to rape her for nearly a decade. On November 14, 2024, at their home in Mazan, a small town in Avignon in the south of France. | Photo Credit: AFP

When videos of her abuse are shown in court, Gisele Pelicot often looks away, choosing instead to talk to a young woman sitting next to her.

The woman’s presence puts the 71-year-old gang rape victim at ease, and sometimes a smile even shines on her face.

Anne-Sophie Langlet, a representative of the Association for Mediation and Assistance to Victims (Amav), has stood by Gisele’s side, becoming her assistant and confidant since the harrowing trial in the southern city of Avignon began on September 2.

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Gisele’s ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, is on trial on charges of raping his wife, who was heavily drugged for almost a decade, and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her. He is in the dock along with 50 people, most of whom deny the accusations.

Ms. Gisele has become a feminist icon in France and abroad by insisting from the beginning that the trial be open to the public to draw attention to sexual abuse drug use.

The hearings, which attracted worldwide attention, were incredibly difficult for Ms Gisele, who said in September that she was “devastated”.

Langlet said his mission was not only to help MGisele and his three children understand the legal process, but also to provide moral support “in the process he is going through, in his fight for all victims.”

“That’s what he needs the most, and I think it’s important for us to be there,” said Langlet, who describes himself as a “socio-legal assistant.”

‘safety net’

Amav employees, unlike lawyers, must maintain an impartial stance.

“There’s no partnership, there’s no friendship,” Langlet said.

“The main thing is to always be there for him and let him know that if he needs to say something, we can take what he has to say into consideration,” Langlet said.

“We’ve created a psychological safety net in case he needs it,” added the legal expert, who sometimes gives way to two colleagues.

Langlet said Ms. Gisele sometimes asked “why a defense attorney said what he said.”

Amav is one of 130 French associations that provide support to victims of crimes, including rape and harassment.

“We have victims who have a lawyer but ask us for help because they need verbal support, because depending on the nature of the case, the lawyer is focused on the trial and does not have time to care for his client,” said Magali Blasco, the director of the association.

“There’s a relationship of trust that’s already established, so we kind of have a connection with the lawyers.”

In late August, the Avignon prosecutor’s office asked the association to accompany the family at the hearing.

candy during recess

Langlet said he met Ms. Gisele 15 minutes before the opening hearing on Sept. 2 and a “relationship of trust” was immediately established.

“For example, it was important for someone to be with him when the videos were being released. He didn’t want anyone to be close to him, which is understandable,” Langlet said.

“It was also difficult for him to be on his own because the lawyers are in front of him.”

Langlet also taught Ms. Gisele and her children breathing exercises and techniques to reduce stress and anxiety during the hearings.

Amav members were asked to accompany Gisele and her children during the first two days of the hearings, but at the request of the family, the support was extended for the duration of the trial, which is expected to last until December 20.

One of Ms. Gisele’s lawyers praised the support provided by Langlet and his colleagues.

“These are really very humane, extremely competent people who definitely helped our client get through this difficult process,” Stephane Babonneau told AFP. he said.

“This is a charitable entity provided by a team of professionals who demonstrate that helping victims is truly a vocation,” he added.

A “pressure room” with food and drinks for the family was set up in a room adjacent to the courtroom.

This is where Gisele Pelicot leaves off her excitement.

Langlet said he had never eaten so much dessert before.

“We give him candy and he eats them every recess,” she said.