Pelicot is done but others still fight to clear their names.

According to the prosecutor's office in the French city of Avignon, seventeen men who were convicted in the Pelicot mass rape trial have submitted an appeal for their verdict. This comes after the conclusion of the trial earlier this month, where all 51 men on trial were found guilty of rape or sexual assault.

The trial revolved around Dominique Pelicot, who had arranged for more than 50 men to come to his home in the southern French village of Mazan and rape his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot. Shockingly, this had been going on for almost a decade, with Dominique routinely drugging Gisèle with sedatives.

The trial, which lasted for several months, drew attention from both France and international observers. It forced the country to face the harsh reality of a culture where misogyny and sexual assault are still prevalent. Today, which marks the deadline for any appeals to be filed, is the last day for the 51 defendants to do so.

Interestingly, while Dominique Pelicot was handed the maximum sentence of 20 years for aggravated rape, his lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, revealed that he will not be appealing the verdict. In her statement to French media, Zavarro mentioned that her client did not want to subject himself to the ordeal of another trial. She also added that he believed it was time to close this chapter and move on.

Out of the 51 defendants, 14 of them, including Pelicot, pleaded guilty to rape during the trial. However, others denied the charges against them, claiming that they believed a husband's consent was enough. One of the defendants was also found guilty of attempting to rape his own wife, using the same methods as Pelicot.

The sentences given to the men ranged from three to 15 years, with some receiving shorter sentences than what the prosecutors had sought. Shockingly, a few even walked free with suspended sentences after the verdict was announced on December 19.

Throughout the case, Gisèle Pelicot has been praised for her bravery and courage. She chose to waive her anonymity and make the trial public, with the hope of encouraging other women to speak up about their experiences. She wanted to show other victims of sexual assault and rape that they have nothing to be ashamed of.

After the trial concluded, Gisèle Pelicot reiterated her support for other survivors of sexual assault. Outside the courtroom in Avignon, she stated, "I am thinking of all the unrecognised victims of stories, which often unfold in the shadows. I want you to know we share the same fight." At the beginning of the trial, she had questioned her rapists' actions, asking them why they did not react when they saw her motionless body and why they did not immediately report it to the police. She bravely stated, "Rape is rape."

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