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Gisèle Pelicot talks to Helena Kennedy with readings from Juliet Stevenson

A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides

Hay Festival 2026, 

Gisèle Pelicot made headlines around the world when she waived her right to anonymity in the trial accusing her husband and 50 men of sexually assaulting her for nearly a decade. The case contributed to the national debate on sexual violence in France, which led to a change in the legal definition of rape.

Here Pelicot speaks to renowned barrister Baroness Helena Kennedy about her memoir A Hymn to Life, and how she came back from an extraordinary betrayal and embraced life with a renewed passion.

This event features simultaneous interpretation from French into English.

The subtitles can be activated on the video by clicking on the CC button, or if you click on the Cog on the bottom right of the screen you can choose the English commentary.