From great leaps in artificial intelligence to the heroic defendant in a mass rape trial that shocked France, here are the stories of five people who made their mark on 2024:
– Gisele Pelicot: anti-rape icon –
Gisele Pelicot, 72, was at the centre of a mass rape trial in France which resonated around the world, becoming an icon for women in the fight against sexual violence.
Her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, on December 19 was handed the maximum term of 20 years jail by a French court, after admitting to drugging her with sedatives and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her over a decade.
The other 50 defendants in the case were also convicted, receiving jail terms of between three and 15 years.
In a move that sparked global support, Gisele Pelicot insisted the three-month trial in the southern city of Avignon be open to the public.
“I wanted all women who are rape …