Gisèle Pelicot

Woman of Courage Award Winner

Gisèle Pelicot

Refusing Anonymity to Demand Global Change

Gisèle Pelicot was honoured with the Woman of Courage Award at the 72nd Women of the Year Lunch and Awards in recognition of her remarkable bravery and pivotal contribution to the worldwide fight against sexual violence. Following the harrowing revelation of severe, long-term abuse facilitated by her husband, Gisèle made the monumental decision to waive her legal right to anonymity. By speaking publicly during the 2024 trial in Avignon, France, her inspirational courage, dignity, and determination sparked a global movement to ensure that shame and blame rest solely with perpetrators rather than victims.

Transforming Personal Trauma into Impactful Activism

Gisèle’s unwavering commitment to justice and truth has resonated across the globe, establishing her as an iconic voice in modern feminism:

  • Waiving Anonymity: Chose to make her legal proceedings public in Avignon, France, in 2024 to shine an unflinching light on sexual violence.
  • Reframing Society’s Narrative: Champions the message that shame belongs with the perpetrators, challenging traditional societal attitudes toward victims.
  • Published Author: Authored her memoir, A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides, published in more than 20 languages to share her story in her own words.
  • Global Advocacy: Travels internationally with her message, empowering survivors of violence to reclaim their dignity and voice.

In the Winner’s Words:

“Receiving an award that celebrates the courage of women touches me deeply, but the word ‘courage’ is an important one, and I believe it should be used with humility. If I am standing before you, it is because of an ordeal I could never have imagined having to endure. Courage can take many forms: speaking out, standing up for someone else, refusing to accept injustice, listening to and believing a victim, passing on knowledge and educating others. And sometimes, quite simply, it is about finding the strength to carry on living and to rebuild one’s life. My thoughts are with all the women who have experienced violence and who are fighting to regain their dignity and sense of self, both through the justice system and in their everyday lives — with those who, despite their suffering, continue to study, work, care for their loved ones, raise their children and try to rediscover the happiness to which every human being is entitled. It is to these women that I wish to dedicate this Women of Courage Award. For courage does not belong only to the women who receive awards; it also belongs to all those who quietly pick themselves up, away from the public eye, and without fanfare. I would like this award to be theirs, too. May it remind every woman that her voice matters, that her dignity can never be taken away from her, and that even after the most terrible ordeals, it is possible to reclaim your life. I will continue, in my own way, to carry this message, so that shame changes sides once and for all, and so that women who are still suffering in silence know that they are not alone.” — Gisèle Pelicot

Chair’s Tribute:

“Gisèle Pelicot has transformed unimaginable personal trauma into a global movement for change. By speaking out with such honesty and conviction, Gisèle has helped to shift the conversation around sexual violence, reminding survivors around the world that the shame belongs solely with perpetrators. Gisèle’s remarkable bravery, humanity and unwavering pursuit of justice embody everything the Woman of Courage Award stands for. It is an honour and real privilege to recognise her achievements.” — Diane Kenwood, Chair, Women of the Year