On February 23, 2002, Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a left-wing guerrilla group. Her harrowing 2,357-day ordeal captivated international attention, and her eventual release on July 2, 2008, was met with widespread relief.

Betancourt's release was met with jubilation in Colombia and globally. She was reunited with her family and received medical attention. Her experience had a profound impact on her life, and she has since become an advocate for human rights and an outspoken critic of the FARC.

The FARC, founded in 1964, aimed to overthrow the Colombian government and establish a socialist state. They employed various methods, including kidnappings, bombings, and attacks on military and civilian targets. Their kidnapping of high-profile individuals, like Betancourt, was used as leverage to negotiate with the government.

The Colombian government, led by President Álvaro Uribe, worked tirelessly to negotiate with the FARC. However, the group's demands and the complexities of the situation hindered progress. The FARC eventually released a video in 2005, showing Betancourt and other hostages, which sparked renewed international pressure.