Gang rape case in France sparks calls for changes to law to include consent

According to data from the French interior ministry, men are responsible for 96 percent of sexual assault cases.

In 2022, women made up 82 percent of victims in date rape cases across all types of assault. Almost two-thirds of recorded cases were due to sexual violence.

According to lawyer and activist Yelena Mandengue, rape has been normalized within what she describes as France’s patriarchal cultural system. This is despite the number of convictions for the crime increasing since 2017.

She said it was about power and “men who want to dominate their victims.”

“This can happen to anyone and any man can rape, so we need to rethink our system on this,” he added.

Gisele Pelicot’s case also led to demonstrations attended by both women and men in support of victims of sexual assault.

Comedian and content creator Antoine Goretti, who said he grew up in a home with strong female figures, called on young men to voice sexual aggression when they see it.

“If we don’t confront the problem, it will never be solved. Men need to understand that every man is, has been, or will be aggressive,” Goretti said.

“Men can solve this problem by asking themselves: ‘What can I do to make things better?'”