«"Crimes that are not remembered": a national campaign against chemical submission

“ There are crimes that cannot be recounted, because they cannot be remembered.«": the association M'endors pas, founded by Caroline Darian, is launching on Monday the 28th the first national awareness campaign on chemical submission, in which her mother Gisèle Pelicot, who has become an international figure in the fight against sexual violence, appears.

This campaign aims to raise awareness of chemical submission, which is the act of administering a psychoactive substance to a person without their knowledge or under duress, for unlawful or criminal purposes.

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“ This is a genuine public health scourge«" Caroline Darian explained to AFP.« The message we want to convey is that if you have any doubt, you should investigate. Just because you don't remember something doesn't mean there's no evidence.“.

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It will be broadcast until October 18 on television, in the press, on social media and on billboards.

In the film, people move into a studio and are each invited to "« to tell what happened »"with their stepfather, partner, or colleague. None of them manage to answer; all show their distress. A message then appears on the screen:« There are crimes that cannot be recounted, because they cannot be remembered.“.

In the final scene, Gisèle Pelicot appears to deliver a prevention message, inviting potential victims to contact the Reference Centre on Substance-Facilitated Assaults (CRAFS).

“ When you launch a campaign of this scale, having my mother's endorsement sends a very strong message.«" says Caroline Darian.

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A scourge long overlooked, now in the spotlight

Gisèle Pelicot said she« very proud »"of his daughter and "« deeply grateful for everything she has done (…) five years of hard work (…) day and night, weekends«" , to launch this campaign with his association.

“ This fight is Caroline's, it's mine, but above all, it's now the fight of the whole of society. Public authorities must take hold of this issue, which is truly a scourge that affects everyone.«" she declared on France Inter.

In France, the issue of drug-facilitated sexual assault was little known until the complaint filed in late 2023 by Member of Parliament Sandrine Josso against Senator Joël Guerriau, whom she accused of drugging her with the intent to sexually assault her. He has since been found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison, 18 months of which were to be served.

A year later, the rapes suffered by Gisèle Pelicot, who was drugged with tranquilizers by her ex-husband Dominique after he raped her and then handed over to dozens of strangers recruited online, finally brought these criminal practices to light. Her ex-husband was sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2024, following a trial that garnered worldwide attention.

The campaign launched on Monday is "« an approach to enable understanding, identification and action«" , according to Arielle Schwab, vice-president of Havas Paris, the agency that is carrying out this campaign with the association.

The initiative has received, among others, the support of the Minister for Gender Equality, Aurore Bergé.« Chemical submission is an insidious form of violence.«" she stressed in a statement to AFP, recalling that the aggressor is also often someone known to the victim.