Gisèle Pelicot takes stand in French mass rape trial

She tells a court she wants women who have been raped to know that "it's not for us to have shame - it's for them".

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She told the court in Avignon she wants women who have been raped to know that "it's not for us to have shame - it's for them".

"I want all women who have been raped to say: Madame Pelicot did it, I can too. I don't want them to be ashamed any longer," she said, referring to her request for an open trial and for the videos of the alleged rapes to be shown.

Ms Pelicot, 71, was taking the stand following a request from her legal team that she be given the chance to respond to the evidence and testimony that have been shared so far at the trial.

She said that over the last few weeks she had witnessed various wives, mothers and sisters of the defendants take the stand and say that the accused were "exceptional men".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgr2yym0nko

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