Gisele Pelicot has told sexual violence survivors they “will never be alone” in a powerful message marking International Women’s Day.
The extraordinary French grandmother dedicated being chosen as The Independent’s most influential woman of 2025 to survivors who “are the true heroes”, in moving personal words shared by her lawyer.
Stephane Babonneau said his client – a global hero and worldwide symbol in the struggle against sexual violence – was emotional and humbled when she found out she had been named as No 1 on the list. She later told him she was “honoured” and passed on her gratitude.
Ms Pelicot, 72, highlighted the victims who are still battling for justice – especially those who are doing so alone and “in the dark” – whom she said she deeply admires.
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Her personal message for The Independent was conveyed by Mr Babonneau, who said: “Gisele is honoured and wishes to dedicate this recognition to all victims, and more specifically to those who are fighting alone to get their rights and the truth acknowledged by courts. To these victims, who most often remain in the dark, Gisele wishes to express her admiration, because she thinks they are the true heroes, and [to] tell [them] that they must know they will never be alone.”
He added: “Gisele and the legal team wish to thank The Independent.”
The courageous and dignified Ms Pelicot has become an icon across the globe, especially to survivors of sexual violence, after she waived her anonymity in the horrific mass-rape case involving her ex-husband and 50 other men, and changed the way the world treats victims for ever.
The public nature of the trial – in which all of the men were convicted of taking part in the monstrous sexual abuse that took place over the course of a decade, when Ms Pelicot was being drugged by her ex-husband – shone a light on the shocking prevalence of rape, sparking a worldwide movement that called for an immediate end to it.
Ms Pelicot faced her abusers in the courtroom in Avignon, France, every day of the harrowing three-month trial, symbolising the message that would become the slogan of the case – that it is the perpetrators, never the victims, who should feel shame for sexual crimes.
Ms Pelicot consequently topped The Independent’s 2025 Influence List, which has been released for a third year running to mark International Women’s Day.
She is joined by a further 49 exceptional women from across the worlds of politics, sports, the arts, media, business, fashion and activism. All are united by their extraordinary impact on society, as they push boundaries and break down barriers to shape the world around them.
