For years, the political scientist and human rights defender Ingrid Betancourt was constantly in the international news. In February 2002, as a candidate for the presidency of her country, Colombia, she was abducted by FARC and was not subsequently freed until 2008. The former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Juan Manuel Santos, was one of the main figures behind the peace agreement with this guerrilla group. Both have a long career working in favour of human rights and have also worked in ecology and sustainable development. During her time as a representative in the Colombian parliament, Betancourt, who was later a senator, created the country’s first ecological party. During his time in government, Santos, the author of a number of books, promoted sustainable development goals, and through the Compaz Foundation has worked to empower victims, consolidate peace and defend the environment.

They will talk about the events in which they have been centrally involved, and whose importance goes beyond the borders of Colombia. A figure who has become a global spokesperson against abduction and the man who was key to the peace agreement have spoken through the pages of the book Una conversación pendiente, and at this festival event will talk live about matters of urgency that affect our globalized world.

Betancourt and Santos will talk to the journalist Jesús Vigorra, the producer and presenter of Canal Sur Radio’s La mañana de Andalucia

The event will be introduced by Diego del Alcázar Benjumea, the Executive Vice-president of IE University.