Forty-six years ago, the “Aix trial” brought attention to the issue of rape in French society, with lawyer Gisèle Halimi advocating for two female victims. Fast forward to the present day, and a similar rape trial in Avignon is shedding light on the continued challenges of addressing sexual violence.
The 1978 trial highlighted the difficulties faced by victims Anne Tonglet and Araceli Castellano, who were initially blamed for the assaults they endured. Despite progress in defining rape as a crime and amplifying the voices of survivors through movements like #MeToo, societal attitudes towards rape have been slow to change.
Today, the case of Gisèle Pelicot exemplifies a shift in perspective, with the focus now on supporting and believing survivors. The legacy of the Aix trial and decades of feminist activism serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle to challenge systems of power and control that perpetuate sexual violence.