For two weeks, the Mazan rape case has been at the heart of discussions in France and has echoes as far away as Quebec. This trial, which has been held in Avignon since September 2, involves 51 men, aged 26 to 74, accused of rape. Among them is Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, for nearly 10 years in order to rape her and allow strangers recruited online to do the same. Firefighters, journalists, neighbors — these men come from all walks of life and reveal a disturbing reality: sexual violence is systemic, masculine and omnipresent in our society.
This is not an isolated case. In recent weeks, many other examples of male violence against women have surfaced: Kristina Joksimovic, a former Miss Switzerland finalist, was allegedly murdered by her husband, her remains crushed in a blender. In India, a doctor was raped and killed, her name subsequently appearing on pornographic websites. In Kenya, Olympic champion Rebecca Cheptegei was burned alive by her partner. These crimes are symptoms of a global public health crisis: violence against women.
Faced with this reality, one question remains: Where are the voices of men in this fight?
1. Silence: looking away from crimes. The Pelicot trial exposes a disturbing reality: many men knew and saw, but chose to look the other way. For nearly 10 years, men participated in the assaults on Gisèle Pelicot, having observed her unconscious state.
Furthermore, Dominique Pelicot recruited these men by posting ads online. However, no one reported these ads. How can we explain that, despite the evidence, no man took the initiative to act to denounce this situation? Just like in the Weinstein affair, where many knew and kept quiet, passive complicity allowed these crimes to continue.
And even when they are aware of the abuse, some who could speak out choose instead to minimize its seriousness. Louis Bonnet, mayor of Mazan in the south of France, sadly declared: “After all, no one died.”
2. Irresponsibility: hiding behind #NotAllMen. When it comes to violence against women, the #NotAllMen argument comes up a lot. Of course, not all men commit these acts of violence, but far too many do. Recent data from the United States, Canada, Australia, England and Wales indicate that in 94 to 98 percent of cases of sexual assault and rape, the perpetrator is a man.
The gap between women’s experiences and men’s perceptions is equally striking. In the UK, 97% of women aged 18 to 24 say they have been sexually harassed at least once in their lives. Yet only 4% of men admit to harassing a woman.
Using the #NotAllMen argument as a shield to avoid caring prevents us from discussing the structures that allow this violence to continue. It becomes an excuse to avoid addressing the larger question: How can you take action to prevent this violence?
3. The inaction of “good” men: where are those who act? Saying “I’m not one of them” is not enough. If you are aware of the problem, why do so few of you take action? On social media, at protests or in discussions, it is mainly women who speak out and fight against this violence. According to data from the Brandwatch analytics tool, 76% of messages mentioning “Pelicot” come from female accounts. Where are the men?
So, to you who are still hesitant to take a stand, it is time to act. Women are tired, angry and terrified. Cases like Gisèle Pelicot’s remind them every day that their safety is precarious. The time for silence and the #NotAllMen excuse is over. It is time for you, men, to ask this crucial question: “How many more men?” And above all: “What can I do to stop them?”
Your voice can make a difference. By speaking out against toxic behavior and intervening when you witness harassment, you can save a life—maybe that of a friend, a sister, a colleague, or a stranger. This isn’t about standing up for yourself. It’s about taking an active role in building a safer, more just future for all.
Silence is no longer an option. You have the power to be allies, to take action and contribute to a safer society. Together, men and women, we can transform the world for future generations.