Pelicot appeared at the Hay Festival to discuss her memoir, A Hymn to Life, and was interviewed on stage by Baroness Helena Kennedy.
Asked if she was fearful for the future of women, she said: “I feel very serene about it because I think that we can all live together in harmony, men and women, and I think it’s a question of educating our children very young.
“Maybe I’m a very optimistic person by nature, but I would hope that the human being will go towards peace and love.”
She praised her daughter Caroline Darian’s advocacy group M’endors pas, which campaigns against drug-facilitated sexual assault and supports victims of chemical submission.
Calling her daughter to join her on stage during a standing ovation, Pelicot said: “I’m really happy to share this exceptional moment with my daughter Caroline, who really fought on this.
“I’m really proud to be her mummy.”