Giselle Felico, Who Brought Rapists to Public Trial, Receives France's Highest Honor
Rising as an 'Icon of Courage' with the Legion of Honor
"Shame Belongs to the Defendants, Not the Victim"
A French woman who brought the men who raped her to trial will receive France's highest honor. On the 13th (local time), Yonhap News Agency reported, "According to the French official gazette, on the occasion of Bastille Day on the 14th, Giselle Felico (72) was selected to receive the Chevalier rank of the Legion of Honor, France's most prestigious decoration."
The Legion of Honor was established by Napoleon I in 1802. It is awarded to individuals who have made distinguished contributions in fields such as the military, politics, economy, society, culture, and sports in France. The order is divided into five ranks: Grand Cross (the highest), Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Chevalier.
From July 2011 to October 2020, Giselle was drugged and raped by dozens of unknown men as a result of the schemes of her then-husband, Dominique Felico. During the first trial of 50 defendants held last year, she demanded a public hearing, and was credited with changing perceptions of sexual violence perpetrators and victims not only in France but around the world. At the time, Giselle said, "Shame should belong to the defendants, not the victim," and became a symbol of courage.
Giselle's ex-husband Dominique was indicted for secretly putting sedatives into his wife's drink, causing her to lose consciousness, and then inviting anonymous men he recruited through online chats to their home to rape her. Dominique recruited 72 men, including soldiers, civil servants, journalists, delivery workers, and prison guards; former police officers and firefighters were also involved, shocking French society. However, some perpetrators died and some could not be identified, so 51 men were actually brought to trial. Dominique was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year.
Dominique's crimes were uncovered in September 2020 when he was caught secretly filming under women's skirts with his mobile phone at a local supermarket. Giselle, the victim, had no memory of being raped due to being drugged, and her children also did not realize their mother had been drugged and unconscious, instead suspecting dementia or a neurological disorder.
In April this year, Giselle was named one of Time magazine's most influential people of 2025. At the time, Time stated, "Giselle decided to forgo anonymity and participate publicly in the lawsuit to demonstrate extraordinary courage," and added, "Through this brave public struggle, she contributed to undermining patriarchy and hindering the acceptance of sexual violence worldwide."
French President Emmanuel Macron publicly praised Giselle after Dominique was convicted in December last year, calling her a "pioneer" and saying, "Her dignity and courage have moved and inspired France and the world."
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