Pelicot will receive France’s highest civic order, for her bravery in the fight against sexual violence

Gisele Pelicot leaves the Avignon courthouse after hearing the defence's final plea at the trial of her former partner Dominique Pelicot. Photo / AFP

Gisele Pelicot will receive the Legion d’honneur, France’s highest civic order, for her bravery in the fight against sexual violence.

Pelicot, 72, became a figurehead for the global feminist struggle after waiving her anonymity in the trial of Dominique Pelicot, her former husband, and 50 other defendants who were accused of drugging and raping her repeatedly over the course of a decade.

At the time, Pelicot’s lawyer told the court that she had waived her anonymity so that her perpetrators be known publicly, insisting that “shame must change sides” in sexual violence cases, and her image became famous worldwide.

The Légion d’honneur is the most prestigious national order of merit recognising outstanding military and civilian service to France and its ideals.

Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the honour has been held by some of France’s most notable figures, including Josephine Baker, the French Resistance spy and performer, and Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president.

As the grand master of the Legion d’honneur, the French president has the final say on who is admitted to the order, but in practice the awards are mostly decided by ministers.

The order has five classes, ranging from knight (chevalier) to grand cross (grand-croix) in order of distinction.

Pelicot is one of 589 people awarded the Legion d’honneur in a decree published today in the Journal Officiel and is to be elevated to the rank of knight.

In December, judges in the French city of Avignon sentenced 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison.

Pelicot said afterwards: “I wanted... to ensure that society could see what was happening. I never have regretted this decision”.

“I have now faith in our capacity to collectively take hold of a future in which everybody ... can live together in harmony, respect, and mutual understanding.”

Well-wishers commended her bravery from all over the world. Queen Camilla, a long-standing campaigner on domestic and sexual violence, was said to be “tremendously affected” by Pelicot’s ordeal and wrote a letter to recognise her “extraordinary dignity and courage”.

Pelicot has since retreated from public life and began writing a memoir, A Hymn to Life, which will be published in January 2026.

Also awarded the distinction this year is Pharrell Williams, the American singer, music producer and designer, whose recent Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion week attracted a star-studded cast of observers including Jay Z, Beyoncé, Steve McQueen, and Spike Lee.

The Legion d’honneur can be conferred upon foreign nationals who have served France or the ideals it upholds, though membership in the Legion is technically reserved for French nationals only.

Among the other French nationals granted the honour this year are the historian Mona Azouf, the actress Lea Drucker and the rock musician Jean-Louis Aubert, as well as a host of significant former politicians, academics and people in the legal field.

Recipients must have shown outstanding merit in activities benefitting France or the public interest, hold a good character, and are proposed by a minister or at least 50 members of the public.

They can also be stripped of the award in the event that they are convicted of a crime or undertake any action “likely to harm the interests of France”, as was the case with disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017.