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France's individual subjected to numerous attacks, the woman at the center of the case, is returning to court on Monday to confront a perpetrator found guilty, the sole individual who is appealing against the judicial outcome from the previous year in which a group of 51 individuals were sentenced for attacking her as she rested, sedated, administered by her partner in their family home.

Back then, the survivor's public resistance was seen as a potential trigger in the battle against sexual violence. But in France, that positive outlook seems to be fading.

"I'll smash your head in unless you depart immediately," growled a man located by a medieval church in the town, the picturesque town where the individuals once lived.

He'd just overheard me asking an elderly woman about the impact of the legal proceedings on the country and, while threatening to destroy our camera too, was now clarifying that the town was fed up with being linked to one of the internationally recognized rape trials.

Earlier in the week, the town's leader had released a softer interpretation of the similar perspective, in a official announcement that depicted Gisèle Pelicot's years-long ordeal as "a private matter… that has no relevance to our town."

One can well understand the leader's wish to safeguard the community's image and its travel business. Yet it should be pointed out that a previous period, he'd garnered attention across France after he'd stated to me on two occasions, in an interview, that he sought to "downplay" the severity of the individual's trauma because "no lives were lost", and minors were not part of it.

Furthermore it is important to observe that the vast majority of the women we did speak to in Mazan recently held a different view from the leader's intention to see the Pelicot case as, mainly, something to "move beyond."

Smoking a cigarette in a shaded doorway not far from the place of worship, a 33-year-old civil servant, who provided the name Aurélie, expressed with undisguised bitterness.

"No-one talks about it anymore, including in this town. It seems like it never occurred. I am aware of an individual going through family abuse at this moment. But women hide it. They fear the individuals who commit these acts," she said, noting that she was "certain" that further Gisèle Pelicot's rapists were still at large, and at large, in the area.

Strolling in the vicinity past a couple of cats enjoying the warmth, another resident, in her late sixties, was similarly willing to discuss, but held an opposing perspective of the proceedings.

"Society is progressing. The nation is developing." Because of the individual's stance? "Yes. It's been a boost, for women to express themselves openly," she shared with me, with conviction.

Throughout the nation, there is little question that the publicity produced by the survivor's globally broadcast resolve that "embarrassment must transfer" - from survivor to perpetrator – has given extra impetus to a movement opposing assault previously invigorated by the activist campaign.

"In my opinion altering conduct is something that requires decades. [But] the proceedings ignited a significant, landmark initiative… against sexual violence, and against impunity," remarked an activist, who oversees a alliance of multiple women's groups in the country. "We concentrate on instructing experts, aiding those affected, on investigations."

"Yes, France has changed. The reports of assaults has tripled, indicating that survivors – females of all ages – they speak up and they want justice," affirmed an advocate, voice of the NGO "Dare to be feminist".

However, the drive and positivity that overwhelmed Gisèle Pelicot the previous winter, as she left the judicial building and into a scrum of supporters, have not brought about many substantive changes to the manner the French state addresses the issue of abuse.

In fact, there is a near consensus among advocates and professionals that conditions are, rather, declining.

"Regrettably, authorities are unresponsive," commented the advocate, highlighting statistics demonstrating that conviction rates are flat-lining notwithstanding a notable surge in reported rape cases.

"The picture is bleak. There is opposition. Rape culture ideas are resurfacing significantly. We can see this with the male-centric groups rising in popularity, notably within adolescent males," continued the coordinator,