• Caroline Darian fears she was drugged and sexually abused by her father, Dominique Pelicot.
• Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years for orchestrating the abuse of his wife over a decade.
• Darian describes her father as a dangerous man who should spend life in prison.
• The case has spotlighted issues of chemical submission and the need for systemic change in handling sexual violence.

Following the revelation of horrific crimes committed by Dominique Pelicot, his daughter, Caroline Darian, has opened up about her traumatic experiences in a powerful series of interviews. In her discussions with BBC, The Guardian, CNN, and SCMP, Darian articulates the pain of living under the shadow of her father's crimes.

Caroline's life was turned upside down when she received a shocking phone call from her mother, Gisèle Pelicot, revealing that her father had been drugging her for nearly a decade, allowing dozens of men to sexually abuse her. "At that moment, I lost what was a normal life," Darian stated, emphasizing the deep psychological impact of this revelation.

Following a considerable investigation, Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a landmark trial that brought attention to severe issues surrounding chemical submission and drug-facilitated sexual violence. The proceedings, which lasted three and a half months, also saw the conviction of 50 other men who participated in these heinous acts. Outside the courtroom, Darian declared, "He should die in prison. He is a dangerous man," reinforcing her belief that her father's actions were deliberate and calculated.

In her pursuit of justice and for the victims of similar crimes, Darian has written a book titled I’ll Never Call Him Dad Again, which details her family’s tragedy and her journey toward understanding the broader implications of sexual violence in society. “How can you rebuild when your father is the worst sexual predator in decades?” she poignantly asked during her interviews, a question that encapsulates the intense emotional labor victims must navigate.

Throughout her ordeal, Darian has come to terms with her complex identity as the daughter of both the victim and the perpetrator. "I don't know whether he is a monster; he knew perfectly well what he did, and he's not sick," she stated, showing the internal conflict stirred by the man she once called father. The shock deepened when police unveiled images of her unconscious, leading her to suspect that she too fell victim to her father's predatory behavior.

With aspirations of raising awareness about the ramifications of drug-facilitated sexual violence, Darian actively campaigns for greater protection and support for abuse victims, shedding light on a culture where such acts tend to be minimized or overlooked. She has initiated a movement called Don't Put Me Under (#MendorsPas) to spread the word about these insidious practices and advocate for systemic changes aimed at prevention and victim support.

As the echoes of her family’s tragic story resonate through France and beyond, Caroline Darian embodies resilience. She seeks not only to heal but to foster a dialogue surrounding consent, accountability, and the fight against gender-based violence. In her words, "There’s no way you can wake up one morning and say, ‘OK, I’m gonna drug my wife’,” serving as a sobering reminder of the calculated nature of these crimes.

For those affected by similar issues, resources and support are available at BBC Action Line.

For a deeper understanding of Caroline's story, watch the documentary airing on France 2 on January 21, which features her and other victims sharing their powerful testimonies about surviving drug-facilitated rape.

Read more about the details surrounding the trial and its implications through the original articles on BBC, The Guardian, CNN, and SCMP.