Gisele Pelicot, a 73-year-old French rape survivor, shared her inspiring story at the Hay Festival, detailing her journey to rediscovering love and trust after years of abuse. Her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping her, allowing others to abuse her over nearly a decade. Speaking candidly, Pelicot, who waived her anonymity as a survivor, stated that shame belongs to her abusers, not to herself. She recounted how she never thought she would trust a man again until she met her partner, Jean-Loup Agopian. Pelicot expressed, “It’s something that I didn’t think could happen... you can fall in love at any age.” During her appearance, she also highlighted the importance of educating children to foster harmony between genders, expressing her optimism for the future. Furthermore, she praised her daughter Caroline Darian’s advocacy group, M’endors pas, which campaigns against chemical submission, and celebrated their shared commitment to fighting for survivors' rights. Pelicot's story serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and the possibility of healing.