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The nation's survivor of multiple assaults, Gisèle Pelicot, is returning to court at the start of the week to confront an individual convicted of assaulting her, the lone defendant who is contesting the prior year's court decision in which a total of 51 accused were sentenced for raping her as she was, under the influence, due to her spouse in their family home.

During that period, Madame Pelicot's outspoken position was seen as a possible turning point in the battle against sexual violence. However across the nation, that optimism seems to be fading.

"I will attack you unless you depart immediately," growled a individual standing outside a ancient place of worship in the community, the scenic area where the couple previously resided.

He'd just overheard me inquiring with a senior resident about the effect of the legal proceedings on France and, while threatening to destroy our camera too, was now stating that the locality was fed up with being linked to one of the world's most notorious legal proceedings for assault.

Earlier in the week, the town's leader had issued a gentler version of the identical viewpoint, in a public statement that described the survivor's prolonged suffering as "a private matter… that has no connection to our community."

It is easy to comprehend the leader's wish to defend the locality's standing and its travel business. However it is important to recognize that a prior year, he'd made headlines across France after he'd told me, twice, in an conversation, that he wanted to "minimize" the severity of the survivor's experiences because "there were no fatalities", and no children were involved.

Furthermore it is important to observe that almost all the women we managed to converse with in Mazan last week disagreed with the mayor's desire to view the legal matter as, mostly, something to "move beyond."

Lighting up in a shaded doorway not far from the church, a 33-year-old civil servant, who gave her name as Aurélie, expressed with clear frustration.

"It is not a topic of conversation, even here in Mazan. It's as if it never happened. I am acquainted with a person suffering from domestic violence right now. Yet ladies keep it secret. They are scared of the men who commit these acts," she said, mentioning that she was "sure" that further the attackers had not been caught, and free, in the community.

Walking nearby past a couple of cats enjoying the warmth, Aurore Baralier, 68, was similarly willing to discuss, but had a contrasting opinion of the Pelicot case.

"Society is progressing. France is evolving." Due to the survivor's actions? "Certainly. It has provided encouragement, for women to talk without fear," she told me, with conviction.

Nationwide, there is no doubt that the coverage generated by Gisèle Pelicot's globally broadcast resolve that "the stigma ought to shift" - from survivor to perpetrator – has given extra impetus to a movement opposing assault earlier activated by the social initiative.

"From my perspective altering conduct is something that takes generations. [But] the Pelicot case triggered a massive, unprecedented movement… opposing assault, and against impunity," said a coordinator, who oversees a coalition of 50 feminist organisations in the country. "We're focused on educating specialists, aiding those affected, on examinations."

"Yes, France has changed. The reports of assaults has tripled, showing that survivors – females of all ages – they voice their experiences and they want justice," concurred Céline Piques, representative of the NGO "Dare to be feminist".

Nonetheless, the vigor and hope that engulfed Gisèle Pelicot at the end of the year, as she left the judicial building and into a group of backers, have not led to many meaningful reforms to the way the authorities tackles the matter of sexual violence.

Actually, there is a general agreement among activists and specialists that the situation is, in contrast, worsening.

"Sadly, officials take no action," said the advocate, pointing to figures showing that rates of successful prosecutions are stagnating notwithstanding a notable surge in cases of assault.

"The situation is dire. There is resistance. Beliefs enabling abuse are coming back very strongly. This is apparent through the male-centric groups becoming more prevalent, notably within young boys and teenagers," noted the coordinator,