Shame Has to Change Sides: A Parliamentary Reception for Gisèle Pelicot

Gisèle Pelicot inspired and moved millions of people when she chose to waive her right to anonymity in the trial of her ex-husband and the fifty other men eventually convicted of her sexual assault. Her call for shame to change sides in cases of violence against women has raised awareness of the devastating impact of these crimes, and invigorated the global movement for change.

In celebration of the global publication of Gisèle Pelicot’s memoir, A Hymn to Life, during her visit to the UK, Women’s Aid and her publisher, Vintage, part of Penguin Random House UK, proudly co-hosted an event in the Houses of Parliament.

Gisèle Pelicot’s book is a powerful and searing reminder that domestic abuse and sexual assault can happen to anyone. Data shows that nearly a third of women experience domestic abuse, with 1 in 4 also experiencing sexual assault. For many women sexual assault is part of the abuse they experience at the hands of their husband or partner.

Gisèle Pelicot‘s message is one of defiance and renewal – that victims have no reason to feel ashamed; that even after unimaginable betrayal we can go on; that the colour can come back to life.

Gisèle Pelicot addressed a captivated room, including government ministers and Members of Parliament, survivors, and advocates to end violence against women and children. Some of those in attendance included Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Jess Phillips, Minister for Victims and Tackling VAWG Alex Davies-Jones, broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire, Women’s Aid ambassadors Michelle Griffith-Robinson, Ashley James, Katie Piper and others.

Gisèle Pelicot said:

‘It is an honour to speak in the Houses of Parliament today, a building where many laws are made.  Changing legislation is far easier than changing attitudes. For victims to speak out, society also has to be ready to listen and to hold their hand.  Shame must change sides.’

Speaking alongside Gisèle Pelicot, Farah Nazeer, CEO at Women’s Aid said:

‘I would like to express my personal thanks to Gisèle for her outstanding bravery, unflinching honesty and pursuit of justice. By holding the men who committed these crimes against her to account, she has given countless women a voice, making them feel seen, heard and no longer alone. We know from our work with survivors just how isolating and insidious violence against women and girls is, as well as how deeply rooted it is in misogyny. By standing tall and calling for shame to change sides, Gisèle has changed the lives of women, everywhere.’ 

Hannah Telfer, Managing Director at Vintage said: 

‘The collective force of Gisèle Pelicot’s strength, hope, honesty and resilience is on every page of A Hymn to Life and has generated an extraordinary response around the world. Gisèle has harnessed the unrivalled power of a book to offer understanding, solidarity an empathy, giving all of us renewed determination to ensure change happens.’

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said:

‘Gisèle Pelicot has shown extraordinary courage and dignity by telling her story. We must honour that by treating violence against women and girls as the emergency that it is.

Our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade cannot wait. This case should mark a pivotal moment in our fight to ensure women and girls can live their lives free from violence and fear.’ 

Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said: 

‘What happened to Gisèle horrified people in France and across the world. I want to pay tribute to her courage in speaking out, and to every survivor who does the same.

She is showing that shame should belong to those who abuse, not the victims. We must keep working to end violence against women and girls.’ 

References: 

1. Nearly a third of women (29.6%) have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16 (ONS, 2025a). Office for National Statistics. (2025) Dataset: Domestic abuse prevalence and victim characteristics. Available online: ONS. 

1. Nearly a quarter (25.6%) of women have experienced sexual assault (including attempts) since the age of 16. (ONS, 2025). Office for National Statistics. (2025) Dataset: Sexual offences prevalence and victim characteristics, England and Wales. Available online: ONS. 

1. Women’s Aid On Track national data shows that in the financial year 2023-24 , (over 1 in 5) 17.2% of women supported by a refuge or community-based support (CBS) service experienced sexual abuse. This included 16.4% of women in CBS services and 26.7% in refuges.