Jane Fonda and Salma Hayek Urge Mexico to Act Over Juarez Killings  5/10/06

Crusading actresses Jane Fonda and Salma Hayek teamed up on Tuesday (09MAY06) to urge the Mexican government to act over the unsolved murders of women in the border town of Ciudad Juarez.

Since 1993, over 350 women have been killed in the northern Mexican city, just south of the Texas border.

Fonda, 68, and Hayek, 39, performed in a benefit performance of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in Mexico City last night, with proceeds from the show going to charities supporting women in Ciudad Juarez.

At a news conference, Fonda said, "If the Mexican government doesn't put energy and resources into stopping these crimes and prosecuting the perpetrators, this is going send a message to the rest of the world."

Mexican-born Hayek fumed, "It's really an embarrassment. In 10 years, it's not possible to secure this area?

"We won't let them (local authorities) rest."

Hayek revealed she is taking time out of her film career to focus on fighting for women's rights, and in particular, justice for the Juarez women.

Playwright and women's rights campaigner Ensler added, "It's now seven years later and we are still here fighting for the rights and the dignity and the honor and the safety of the women of Juarez. This is an outrage."