Murals depicting her signature auburn bob and dignified demeanourThe way a person behaves towards other people. have sprung up in cities around France. Hundreds of gifts, letters and flowers have been sent to her from around the world. Stickers reading "Merci Gisele" are plastered on walls, benches and lampposts across Europe.

She has become a hero to people across the world in the fight to end rape culture. But she describes her life as "completely destroyed" because of the actions of her husband, Dominique Pelicot, who is on trial with 50 other men for rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault.

Dominique Pelicot has confessed to contacting the men on an online chatroom called "Without her knowledge" and inviting them to rape Gisele, after having first drugged her to the point of unconsciousness. Some of the rapes lasted up to six hours. They took place over the course of nine years.

As Gisele took the stand on Wednesday, she criticised the testimonyA formal written or spoken statement. of some defendantsPeople who are accused in a court. who have upheldTo confirm up support something that has been questioned. that they did not know that she was unconscious and unconsenting, describing it as "degrading" and "humiliating".

She also spoke directly to the women who have taken the stand to justify the actions of their loved ones accused of rape. "A rapist is not just someone you meet in a dark car park late at night," she said. "He can also be found in the family or among friends."¹

Her catchphrase, "shame must change sides," has become a mantra for campaigners across the world. Gisele waived her right to anonymity and chose for her trial to be held before the eyes of the world, also allowing for videos of the attacks to be shown in court. She aims to end the culture of shame that haunts many victims of sexual abuse.

At the court proceedings, the world has seen a brave, self-assured woman with her head held high who has given calm and articulate - though moving - testimony of her unimaginable torment. But Gisele wants it to be clear that her composure is little more than a veneer.

"The facade looks solid, but inside, it's a pile of ruins," she said of herself. "Everything needs to be rebuilt."

Nor does she want to be a hero. Her lawyer has said that she "never wanted to be a role model".² But as she walks into the courtroom, she is greeted by a symphony of applause from onlookers who travel miles to Avignon to show their support.

Her case has been viewed as a reckoning for French society's permissive attitude to sexual offences. The mayor of the small town the Pelicots hailed from, Mazan, apologised after seeming to dismiss her experiences, saying "no one was killed" and "it would have been much worse if [Pelicot] had killed his wife".³

A report from the French Ministry of Gender Equality showed that 94,000 women report being the victims of rape or attempted rape in France every year. In 2021, just 1% of reported assaults resulted in a conviction.⁴

But some think this trial could turn the tide. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that the trial may spark changes to France's law on rape, forcing lawmakers to include consent in the definition of rape for the first time.⁵ And across the world, a huge number of equalities have been won in the courtroom, from workplace and education rights to reproductive healthcare.

Others are more pessimistic. They say that Gisele's treatment in the courtroom illustrates that there is much more work to be done before shame truly "changes sides".

Will she change our world?

Yes: Rights are always won in the courtroom. The issue of rape and sexual abuse needs to become visible for us to discuss how to stop this epidemic of often gendered violence. This trial has made it visible thanks to Gisele waiving her anonymity.

No: Unfortunately, the fact that we needed a case this shocking and disturbing in order to take the issue of rape seriously illustrates that it is a crime that is still often overlooked and underpunished, despite its huge prevalence.

Or... Gisele has already changed our world. She has inspired people everywhere and told them that they can look to her as an example of rebuilding a life after rape and pursuing justice.

Demeanour - The way a person behaves towards other people.

Testimony - A formal written or spoken statement.

Defendants - People who are accused in a court.

Upheld - To confirm up support something that has been questioned.