Discuss to Find a Temporary Solution for Some Peace
In an upfront and straightforward manner, let's dive into the captivating tale of Caroline Darian, a woman who turned her personal tragedy into a galvanizing force. Often feeling like the forgotten victim of the infamous Mazan trial, Caroline bravely shares her story to shed light on the widespread issue of chemical submission and defend the rights of victims. Let's gather around for a candid conversation.
Admittedly, I was hesitant before diving into Caroline Darian's two bone-chilling yet compelling accounts, prepared for the harrowing drama that tore the Pelicot family apart. Yet, I can't help but recommend these courageous narratives, even if they disclose an unbelievable tale: that of a loving father and grandfather who drugged, filmed, and raped his wife for years, with the complicity of around sixty men recruited online.
The overlooked victim
In every interview she grants, Caroline Darian echoes her key message: chemical submission is more prevalent than people dare to imagine. Raising awareness and providing better support for victims is crucial, she emphasizes, being the woman who started the organization "M'endors pas: stop to chemical submission."
Beyond that, her message is intensely personal: to remind the world that she is the unacknowledged victim of the Mazan trial. Caroline stands firm in claiming her status as a victim, asserting that the system overlooked the facts concerning her based on the attention paid solely to her mother.
It's astonishing to consider how a family could survive such a catastrophic ordeal. Where does Caroline find the fortitude to speak out and fight?
When something traumatic occurs, we are presented with two choices: fall apart and do nothing, or analyze the situation, seek understanding, and summon our strength.
Caroline Darian
In her investigation into chemical submission, Caroline discovered that it is a pervasive and underestimated problem. "We think of GHB slipped into a drink in a bar, but it's not only that," she explains. "Often, it's easily accessible medications. They are diverted from their original properties to alter behavior and basic vigilance for criminal and sexual purposes."
This was the sad fate of her mother, who became fearful of a serious illness due to her memory loss and drowsiness caused by the medications her husbandadministrated discreetly.
If Caroline Darian stands up today, it's also to educate and prepare those who deal with such cases, such as police, medical professionals, and legal personnel. "Pharmacologists are aware of the existence of chemical submission, but general practitioners and emergency room doctors aren't," she notes. "It's a topic that tends to slip under the radar."
But mainly, Caroline multiplies interviews and talks to heighten awareness and protect victims of chemical submission. "We'll never be able to stop the predators, there will always be some, so how do we ensure the victims know how to react and spot the operating methods?" she asks.
By making the subject public, this courageous woman aims to send a message to the offenders: beware, your days of operating with impunity in the shadows are numbered.
"Chemical submission, like cases of rape, is part of the behaviors where men have always felt somewhat protected by a form of omerta and concealment," notes Caroline Darian. "On the other hand, victims have historically had difficulty speaking out and being heard. But that's changing. We know, and we will speak out."
The daughter of Gisèle Pelicot, herself a mother to a young lad, advocates for the systematic use of toxicological analyses in cases of doubt.
"It's a first step that will allow the victim to contemplate the reality that they might have been a victim without realizing it," she says. "In my case, at no point was I told, after discovering my photos, 'We will link you to a medical-legal unit to see if we can find something in your hair.' Now, it's too late, it should have been done five years ago. This is part of the evidence collection process, essential for victims to feel validated and secure in claiming their status. This is part of my crusade."
Caroline Darian recalls that her father, in her case, was convicted for invasion of privacy. "That's not the point," she says indignantly, firm in her belief that she was victim to her father's assaults, which he denied in court.
"It was extremely challenging for me to remain silent in that court because he was always rewriting history and lying."
Caroline Darian has filed a complaint against Dominique Pelicot that could lead to another trial. Does she have the strength to endure the process again? "Yes, I have the strength," she says. "But my hopes are not high. I did it because I needed to go through the process of seeking truth."
"I hope that the prosecutor's office in Versailles, the French justice system, will take this complaint seriously. Will we make it to a trial? I have very little hope, but at least it will be aligned with my path of seeking truth since the beginning. I can't encourage victims to speak and trust themselves if I don't go through the process of seeking truth myself."
The Healing Power of Testimony
I asked Caroline Darian what this ordeal had revealed to her about herself. "My determination," she replied without hesitation. "It's what gave me the strength to break free from certain things that go back to my childhood. Condemning my own parent requires aversion, authenticity, and determination that go beyond understanding. Because it's not like I was raised by a violent or abusive father. I was extremely close to both of my parents, our family was very tight, and I think people underestimate this."
If writing her two books served as therapy for Caroline Darian, her healing also comes from sharing her story. "Speaking is therapeutic," she assures. "Every time I find myself in conferences or literary gatherings, people assume it's an emotional burden for me, but in fact, it does me good to talk to you."
*Darian is a pen name composed of the first names of Caroline's brothers, David and Florian.
Author of two books, Et j'ai cessé de t'appeler papa: quand la soumission chimique frappe une famille and Pour que l'on se souvienne: après le procès de Mazan, le combat pour toutes les victimes de soumission chimique*, both by JC Lattès.
*Founder of the organization M'endors pas: stop to chemical submission.
- Caroline Darian diligently emphasizes the widespread issue of chemical submission, urging the public to raise awareness and offer support to victims.
- In her personal mission, Caroline strives to ensure that her status as a victim of the Mazan trial is acknowledged, highlighting the system's oversight of her case.
- Pharmacologists are aware of the existence of chemical submission, yet general practitioners and emergency room doctors are often uninformed, as Caroline Darian points out.
- In a bid to protect victims, Caroline Darian advocates for the systematic use of toxicological analyses in cases of doubt, providing a potential avenue for validation and healing.
- Caroline Darian, the daughter of Gisèle Pelicot, is fighting to make chemical submission a topic of general news, aiming to expose offenders and bring predators out of the shadows.
- By sharing her harrowing experiences and founding the organization "M'endors pas: stop to chemical submission", Caroline Darian serves as a beacon for women's health, mental health, sexual health, and health-and-wellness advocates, as well as crime-and-justice reporters.
