COMADRES

a historic struggle on the brink of oblivion

Abstract

This article analyzes the historical trajectory of COMADRES, one of El Salvador’s most emblematic human rights organizations, which emerged in response to the violence and repression of the Salvadoran civil war (1980–1992). Through the voices of its members, the paper highlights how this committee of mothers and relatives of political detainees, the disappeared, and the murdered has resisted for over 48 years, demanding truth, justice, and reparation. The text exposes the challenges they faced during the war—persecution, torture, and criminalization—as well as post-war obstacles such as amnesty laws, impunity, and the lack of state support. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of historical memory and rights advocacy as a legacy of struggle that persists despite the risk of being forgotten.