Colombia’s most famous former hostage, Ingrid Betancourt, will receive a medal in the Canadian province of Quebec Wednesday.
According to Canadian television network CTV, the Medal of the National Assembly will be presented to recognize Betancourt’s commitment to democracy, human rights and freedom of expression.
NGOs Reporters Without Borders and Institut du Nouveau Monde had proposed the French-Colombian politician for the award.
While in Canada, Betancourt will receive a number of other accolades, including an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Montreal, this as a recognition of her fight against violence and corruption in Colombia.
Before being kidnapped in 2002, then-Congresswoman Betancourt was an aspiring Presidential candidate for the small Oxygen Green Party. While in captivity, the French-Colombian became the most famous of the estimated hundreds of hostages held by the FARC.
Betancourt became a controversial person in Colombia after she left for France almost immediately after her release in July 2008. She returned to Colombia for a few days once, while on a tour to visit Latin American leaders. The former FARC hostage is currently writing a book about her captivity.