Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Violence is a public health problem that is growing every day; therefore, it is important to strengthen monitoring and risk management capabilities and to put an end to aggressions by respecting, protecting, and guaranteeing the rights of women and girls so that they can reach their full potential. Particular emphasis is placed on seeking mechanisms to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. OBJECTIVE: To recognize the meanings of forgiveness constructed by women victims of the armed conflict in Montes de María, San Onofre Sucre, as a consequence of sexual violence perpetrated by paramilitaries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative approach of grounded theory and symbolic interactionism was used to develop a theory based on the meanings that emerge from interactions between people and their environment. RESULTS: The resulting substantive theory demonstrated the characteristics of women's experience of sexual violence, which symbolizes distress, exile, the destruction of their goals and projects, as well as the difficulty of forgiveness due to the magnitude of the harm caused, and the non-compliance with legislation that should protect women victims of such violence. CONCLUSION: Among the meanings of sexual violence, it was found that forgiveness is difficult for these women because it is impossible to forget the act of horror committed against them. They argue that, in order to enter the path of forgiveness and reconciliation, offenders must reveal the truth about the acts committed and show genuine repentance.