Jennifer Lopez honored by Amnesty International for new film 'Bordertown'

Jennifer Lopez was honored Wednesday by human rights group Amnesty International for producing and starring in "Bordertown," a new film examining the murders of women in a Mexican border city.

Photo: Jennifer Lopez honored by Amnesty International for new film 'Bordertown'

Lopez said she felt "very humbled" to receive the group's "Artists for Amnesty" award from East Timor's Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel peace laureate. The award ceremony came before Thursday's premiere at the Berlin film festival of "Bordertown," directed by Gregory Nava.

Lopez plays an investigative journalist reporting on the serial killings of women in Ciudad Juarez, on Mexico's border with the U.S. The film also stars Antonio Banderas and Martin Sheen.

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

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, reports AP.

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