Ingrid Betancourt is a Colombian-French politician, former senator, and anti-corruption activist who was born on December 25, 1961. She gained international prominence due to her kidnapping by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a guerrilla group, in 2002 while she was campaigning for the Colombian presidency. Betancourt remained a hostage in the jungle for over six years until she was rescued by Colombian security forces in 2008 in an operation called "Operation Jaque." Her kidnapping, captivity, and subsequent release received widespread coverage, and she has since become an advocate for peace and human rights, sharing her experiences in talks and in her memoir "Even Silence Has an End." Her story has also placed a spotlight on the plight of hostages and the impact of armed conflict on civilian populations.