– Feminist rally in support of Gisèle P.
Around fifty people gathered Thursday evening in support of the French woman raped without her knowledge, drugged by her husband whose trial has just taken place.
Published today at 7:40 p.m.
Subscribe now and enjoy the audio playback feature.
BotTalk
- Around fifty people demonstrated their support for Gisèle P.
- The demonstrators denounce a culture of rape in patriarchal societies.
- A collective demands judicial reform to support victims in their efforts.
“Hate must change sides” and “Gisèle we believe you”, chanted the fifty people – mostly women – gathered Thursday evening in Geneva, rue du Marché. They were gathered at the call of the Geneva collective of the Feminist Strike and Rape-Secours to show their support for Gisèle P., victim during the trial which has just taken place in France. Drugged with sleeping pills by her husband, she was raped by more than fifty men in her home over ten years.
Gathered around a banner reading “We believe you”, the demonstrators denounced “a culture of rape in our patriarchal societies”. Some women have tears in their eyes when the facts are stated. “For nearly ten years, by nearly 80 men found by her husband, Gisèle P. was raped without her knowledge and chemically tied up. By retirees, nurses, bakers, municipal councilors, 17, 25, 46 and 71 years old, good fathers of families, exemplary husbands,” declares one of the demonstrators, who adds that around thirty rapists have not been found to date.
“Colossal societal failure”
They emphasize that the trial demonstrates “a colossal societal failure” and call for collective reflection. For Françoise Nyffeler, former member of the Grand Council and member of the Feminist Strike, the trial is historic. “This is the first time that the existence of rape has become evident. Men cannot deny it, since there are video films that prove it. Such a number and such a range of men demonstrate that rapists are not monsters or strangers, but good family men.”
For her, it is imperative to change “the society of male domination”. The Feminist Strike collective is calling for an emergency education and training plan for all sectors concerned: justice, police, schools. But also a reform of the judicial system, “so that this impunity stops and that the complainants are accompanied and supported in their denunciations”.
“Latest news”
Want to stay on top of the news? “Tribune de Genève” offers you two meetings per day, directly in your email box. So you don’t miss anything that’s happening in your canton, in Switzerland or around the world.
Other newsletters
Log in
Judith Monfrini is a journalist for the local section. With a legal background, she obtained her diploma from the Journalism and Media Training Center (CFJM) in 2015. She worked for more than ten years for the Médiaone group. (Radio Lac, One fm)More info
Did you find an error? Please report it to us.
1 comment
