Many women who participated in this study had never publicly shared their stories before. For most of them, the interviews became a space of recognition, agency, and release from long-carried burdens of trauma. By voicing their lived realities, survivors not only reclaim ownership of their narratives but also challenge the partial truths or half secrets preserved in official records, including the Salvadoran Truth Commission, which frequently marginalized, neglected or intentionally excluded women’s testimonies.

The presentation highlights oral history as a methodology that fosters empathy, inclusivity, and social accountability. It also emphasizes the ethical imperative of preventing re-victimization and epistemic extractivism by ensuring that knowledge production returns to and benefits the communities involved. This commitment is illustrated through the process of filming and disseminating the award-winning documentary Añil (Indigo), which extended research findings back to victims and broader audiences. Ultimately, the project demonstrates how oral histories of sexual violence enrich collective memory, deepen our understanding of democratic transitions, and contribute to more authentic and gender-sensitive accounts of El Salvador’s recent past.