The association #MendorsPas: Stop to Chemical Submission, founded by Caroline Darian, launched its first national awareness campaign on Monday, September 28, featuring her mother, Gisèle Pelicot, who has become a prominent figure in the fight against sexual violence. The campaign aims to raise awareness about chemical submission, a term used to describe the act of administering a psychoactive substance to someone without their knowledge or against their will, typically for criminal purposes. Caroline Darian told AFP that this is a serious public health issue, emphasizing that individuals with doubts should investigate, as the absence of memories does not mean there are no traces of such an act.
The campaign, which will run until October 18, will be broadcast on television, in print media, on social networks, and on billboards in major cities. In a film featured in the campaign, people are seated in a studio and invited to "tell what happened" with their stepfather, partner, or colleague. None can answer, and all show signs of distress. A message appears on screen: "There are crimes that one cannot tell, because one does not remember." In the final scene, Gisèle Pelicot delivers a prevention message, urging potential victims to contact the Reference Center on Facilitated Aggressions, a support organization that helps individuals investigate and understand their experiences.
Gisèle Pelicot became a prominent figure in the fight against sexual violence after the trial of the Mazan rapes, during which her ex-husband, Dominique Pélicot, was convicted in December 2024 for drugging and raping her over many years and for delivering her unconscious to dozens of men. Caroline Darian also claims to be a victim of her father, as photos of her, nude and unconscious, were found. She filed a complaint against her father in 2025, saying she "lost ten years" due to a lack of information. Gisèle Pelicot believes that if the campaign had existed earlier, she might have sought help sooner and avoided years of uncertainty.
Caroline Darian, who founded the #MendorsPas association, said she is "very moved" by her mother's support and emphasized that the campaign is a strong signal for victims. She wants to tell them: "We believe you, you are no longer alone and you deserve to be recognized, heard, and supported." Experts, including pharmacist Leila Chaouachi, who founded the Reference Center on Facilitated Aggressions by Substances, are available to help victims investigate potential chemical submission. Caroline Darian urged victims to seek help, stating that even without memories, traces can often be found, including substances, DNA, or digital evidence.
National Campaign Launched to Raise Awareness About Chemical Submission
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