Gisele Pelicot’s daughter to publish book about rape victims

PARIS – The daughter of Dominique Pelicot, the Frenchman found guilty of drugging his then wife so that dozens of strangers could rape her, plans to publish a book about victims of sexual abuse, her publisher said on Feb 5.

For Us To Remember, or Pour Que L’on Se Souvienne, is set to hit the book stands on March 5.

In December 2024, Dominique Pelicot, 72, was

convicted of drugging and raping his then wife Gisele Pelicot

and soliciting dozens of men to do the same for more than a decade.

His 50 co-defendants were also found guilty and handed various sentences of between three and 15 years.

Ms Caroline Darian’s mother

Gisele Pelicot has become a feminist icon

by refusing to be ashamed and demanding the trial be open to public.

Ms Darian, a pen name, believes she was also assaulted by her father who took intimate photographs of her.

She has campaigned for awareness about the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse, and in 2022 wrote a book about the family’s ordeal, Et J’ai Cesse De T’appeler Papa, or And I Stopped Calling You Dad.

Her new book will focus on victims of rape “who have neither evidence nor memories”, the publishing house JC Lattes said.

Ms Gisele Pelicot, 72, also plans to publish a book and is in talks with Flammarion, the publisher told AFP on Feb 5.

Both Ms Gisele Pelicot and Ms Caroline Darian said they wanted to draw attention to the dangers of sexual crimes through so-called chemical submission, or drugging someone with malicious intent.

JS Lattes said: “The daughter of the victim and the persecutor offers us her unique view of this tragedy, reveals the unfinished business of the investigation, and relentlessly pursues her fight against chemical submission.”

Ms Darian has told the BBC that her father “should die in prison”. AFP