CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Geography freshman Nicole DiSante holds a large pink cross symbolizing the number of women that have died near the U.S. – Mexico border on the Mall yesterday afternoon.

Members of the UA's Amnesty International organization lined 400 pink crosses on the Mall yesterday to help raise awareness of the nearly 400 women who have gone missing or been found dead in Mexican-American border towns.

The group is doing this because of the hundreds of women who have gone missing or been found killed along the border and the fact that the companies and the Mexican government are not doing anything to prevent this from happening, said Ashley Davidson, Amnesty International member and coordinator of the project.

The pink crosses signified the nearly 400 "femicides," or the women who have died.

The targeted women are usually 12 to 22 years old, slim, dark haired, pretty women from poor families who are kidnapped without explanation on their way to or from work at the maquiladoras, which are major American company factories such as Ford and Sony, Davidson said.

Some women are kept for a period of time before being found dead in the middle of the Mexican desert. Most of them show signs of being brutally raped and sometimes have had their breasts cut off, having been disemboweled, or so badly beaten their faces are unidentifiable, Davidson said.

So far, 370 women have been reported missing or murdered in Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and more are missing everyday.

"This is a human rights issue because women are specifically targeted these are hate crimes against women," said Davidson, a senior majoring in French.

Pictures and information lined the mock graveyard explaining the victims, the situation and other facts about the incidents.

"Amnesty's issue with the Mexican government in Juarez and Chihuahua is they are not doing enough to help these families," Davidson said.

"The corporations aren't taking measures to prevent this from happening to their employees," Davidson said.

Amnesty International had two petitions for students to sign. One will be sent to Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. They are regarding Resolution 392, a bipartisan resolution calling attention to murders in Juarez, one of the largest cities in Mexico, said Kristian Dougherty, the co-coordinator of the UA's chapter of Amnesty International.

"We are saying the problem is in the northern part of your country, maybe you can do something about it," said Dougherty, an economics junior.

The Mexican government has only reported 70 women dead or missing since 1993, while non-governmental organizations have reported the actual number is closer to 400, Davidson said.

"It's legitimate to say there are hundreds of other women missing. We think the police are in on it," Davidson said.

Davidson said most people who know about this think the police are in on the crimes because officers sometimes won't show up to a reported rape for up to an hour and a half after it has already taken place.

Amnesty International faculty adviser Joe Watkins said the group organized the project on their own and he is very proud of the hard work this year's group has been doing.

"I think a statement like this shows that we have a dedicated Amnesty International group, and you can expect to see them on campus over and over again," said Watkins, an associate math professor.

Violeta Ramos, a psychology freshman, said she thinks it is important to inform more people about the tragedies and hopefully get people more involved in making a difference.

"I've been aware of this for a long time, and I'm glad Amnesty International is making people aware. Hopefully people will want to make a change and help out," Ramos said.

The group also advertised Friday's opportunity to meet members of the International Caravan for Justice, which includes mothers of these women and supporters from all over the United States.

The group is meeting up with people from all over the United States to form a large caravan to enter Juarez on Dia de los Muertos Monday in a celebration of the dead.

A group of victims' mothers and supporters of the cause from Washington state will pass through Tucson Friday and a community potluck dinner to meet the people involved will be held 6 p.m. at Armory Park Senior Center, 220 S. Fifth Ave.

"Our intent is that you meet the mothers. They are the most important, they're the ones who suffer and whose voice we need to hear," Watkins said.