Human Rights Group Honors Jennifer Lopez

Actress Recognized By Amnesty International For Producing And Starring In "Bordertown"

(AP)  Jennifer Lopez has been honored by Amnesty International for producing and starring in "Bordertown," a new film examining the murders of women in a Mexican border city.

Lopez said she felt very humbled to receive the human rights group's Artists for Amnesty award Wednesday from East Timor's Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace laureate.

The 38-year-old singer-actress plays an investigative journalist reporting on the serial killings of women in Ciudad Juarez, on Mexico's border with the United States.

Amnesty International puts the number of women and girls killed in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua since 1993 — many after being kidnapped and raped — at more than 400.

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Photos: J.Lo And Marc Anthony

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Lopez described it as "one of the world's most shocking and disturbing, underreported crimes against humanity."

Also at Wednesday's ceremony was Norma Andrade, whose 17-year-old daughter was found murdered in February 2001. She co-founded Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa (Our Daughters Back Home), which represents mothers and families of the murdered women.

"She's a remarkable woman and a true inspiration," Lopez said.

"Bordertown," directed by Gregory Nava and also starring Antonio Banderas and Martin Sheen, was to premiere Thursday at the Berlin film festival.

[psolis4]

As an El Pasoan, I am glad that this story is out on the open. Unfortuntely, I am still seeing so many teenagers go over to Juarez to party. I hope that this movie shines some light on the dangers of going over the border...

[agnim]

Well done, J-lo.
The Mexican government needs to do a lot more to protect those women.
It is so destructive of a society for the men to be preying on the 'mothers' of the society in that devilish a fashion.