As Gisèle Pelicot faces one of her assailants in court, what has changed within the country?
The nation's individual subjected to numerous attacks, the woman at the center of the case, is reappearing before the judiciary on Monday to confront one of her attackers, the sole individual who is appealing against the judicial outcome from the previous year in which a total of 51 accused were found guilty of assaulting her as she was, under the influence, administered by her partner in their family home.
Back then, Madame Pelicot's defiant public stance was seen as a potential trigger in the struggle with sexual violence. Yet within the country, that hope looks to be diminishing.
"I am going to harm you should you remain here," growled a person located by a ancient place of worship in the community, the scenic area where the couple previously resided.
He caught my conversation questioning an older lady about the effect of the legal proceedings on the country and, while vowing to damage our equipment too, was now explaining that the community was fed up with being connected to one of the world's most notorious legal proceedings for assault.
Earlier in the week, the town's leader had issued a gentler version of the identical viewpoint, in a communique that described Gisèle Pelicot's years-long ordeal as "a private matter… that has no relevance to our town."
One may appreciate the official's desire to protect his town's reputation and its tourism industry. Yet it should be pointed out that a previous period, he'd garnered attention across France after he'd stated to me on two occasions, in an discussion, that he aimed to "downplay" the severity of Gisèle Pelicot's ordeals because "no lives were lost", and no children were involved.
It is also worth noting that nearly every one of the women we were able to interview in the town in the past few days held a different view from the leader's intention to see the Pelicot case as, mainly, something to "move beyond."
Having a smoke in a covered entryway not far from the place of worship, a government worker, who gave her name as the individual, communicated with open resentment.
"It is not a topic of conversation, within this community. It seems like it never occurred. I am aware of an individual suffering from domestic violence at this moment. But women hide it. They're afraid of the persons who commit these acts," she stated, adding that she was "certain" that additional the assailants remained undetected, and unapprehended, in the area.
Moving through the area near a few cats enjoying the warmth, a different individual, elderly, was equally keen to talk, but took a different view of the proceedings.
"Society is progressing. The country is advancing." With Madame Pelicot's help? "Certainly. It has provided encouragement, for women to express themselves openly," she told me, emphatically.
Across France, there is no doubt that the publicity generated by the survivor's worldwide shared commitment that "shame should change sides" - from the assaulted to the assailant – has provided added momentum to a campaign against sexual violence earlier activated by the social initiative.
"From my perspective changing behavior is something that needs a long time. [But] the proceedings sparked a massive, unprecedented movement… opposing assault, and fighting exemption from punishment," remarked an activist, who co-ordinates a coalition of numerous advocacy bodies in France. "Our attention is on educating specialists, supporting victims, on inquiries."
"Absolutely, the country has evolved. The reports of assaults has grown significantly, indicating that victims – women and girls – they speak up and they seek legal recourse," affirmed a spokesperson, spokesperson for the organization "Osez le féminisme".
Nonetheless, the drive and positivity that overwhelmed the survivor at the end of the year, as she left the courtroom and into a scrum of supporters, have not brought about many substantive changes to the way the national government addresses the challenge of abuse.
Actually, there is a widespread understanding among advocates and professionals that the situation is, in contrast, worsening.
"Sadly, officials take no action," said the advocate, highlighting data showing that rates of successful prosecutions are not improving despite a sharp rise in cases of assault.
"The outlook is grim. There is opposition. Notions supporting assault are returning with force. This is apparent through the male-centric groups becoming more prevalent, notably within adolescent males," added the activist,
