00:00A scenario that can quickly turn into a nightmare, when drugs are used to force sex.
00:14Known as chemical submission, the most common substances are so-called knockout drops, sleeping
00:20pills or ecstasy.
00:22In France, dozens of men are currently standing trial for this crime and more victims are
00:27speaking out publicly, including survivors like 63-year-old Anne.
00:32As a child, she was drugged and raped by her own father and other men for years.
00:38You're constantly feeling danger, like you're going crazy.
00:45For a child, the family is their entire world.
00:48I always thought it was my fault, I thought that I deserved it, that I was dirty and perverted.
00:57I really despised myself during my childhood and I was also deteriorating health-wise.
01:03I had a lot of illnesses and I was suicidal.
01:07At that time, I repeatedly tried to take my own life.
01:12For legal reasons, Anne cannot reveal her last name, but it's important to her to publicly
01:17speak about what happened.
01:22She felt empowered by the strength displayed by Gisele Pellicot in her own rape trial.
01:27The 71-year-old survivor was drugged and raped by her now ex-husband and at least 70 other
01:32men for nearly 10 years.
01:35Her husband even filmed the assaults.
01:38Gisele Pellicot insisted on a public trial and that the videos be shown as evidence.
01:45It's so courageous to be holding a public trial, which is rare in these cases.
01:53The whole world sees this beautiful, elegant woman with her head held high, despite being
02:00completely destroyed on the inside, as she has said.
02:04And now the shame, the horror, it's their burden, her husband and the other defendants.
02:11Actually the shame is not with the victim, but with the rapists.
02:20The Pellicot trial has also led to political changes.
02:25The French government has created a new commission on chemical submission.
02:29It's being chaired by Zandrine Jossot, a member of parliament.
02:35This is a very important moment.
02:37This is the first seminar on chemical submission in the National Assembly.
02:40There are doctors and many other people here today.
02:43We're heading in the right direction.
02:52Jossot speaks about the newly founded commission from the parliament building.
02:57Many people are hoping for greater societal awareness on rape culture.
03:01Bravo, we need politicians like you.
03:05Politicians who aren't scared to speak up for women.
03:09Thank you, that's very kind, thank you.
03:15Have a nice day.
03:21The committee finally wants official numbers on cases of chemical submission, and the possibility
03:27to quickly conduct blood tests.
03:30This is still very complicated in many parts of France.
03:33We should train doctors accordingly, and we need better laws to support the victims
03:38who are suffering in silence in finding some peace of mind, and to heal.
03:44When you are raped, a part of you dies.
03:49Zandrine Jossot herself has also experienced this.
03:52A year ago, a senator poured ecstasy into her glass, she says.
03:57She barely managed to escape the situation.
04:01Together with other women and colleagues, Jossot was debating how to strip the senator
04:05and anyone else accused of chemical submission of their honorary titles, as a warning.
04:13But she also gets targeted for her advocacy.
04:19They want to intimidate me.
04:23Recently I was at the train station, suddenly a man approached me and told me to leave the
04:28senator alone.
04:30But I have to defend myself, and I need to speak for all those who can't.
04:36The Pélico trial needs to push our country forward.
04:44Anne hopes that the statute of limitations on rape, currently 20 years in France, will
04:48finally be abolished.
04:50Because it would have taken decades for her to build up the strength to take someone to
04:54court.
04:58Because of the Pélico trial, people are beginning to understand the extent of chemical submission,
05:04and that it happens to young people, even children.
05:08And that means there is no justification for a statute of limitations.
05:12I hope that my father is afraid.
05:14I want him to realize that times are changing.
05:19Anne says that, when the perpetrators are made accountable for their actions, their
05:23victims' wounds can finally heal.
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