Shakira honored for humanitarian work

Shakira has been honored by Harvard University for her artistic and humanitarian work. She later said some U.S. states' proposed anti-immigrant legislation goes against her foundation's efforts to provide education to poor people around the world.

The Grammy Award-winning singer, however, said Latino immigrants in the United States facing various anti-immigrant bills will have "justice" as public awareness about their plight grows.

"Justice will come. I'm sure," Shakira told The Associated Press after the award ceremony. "Wherever there is . . . a kid, who could be the son or the daughter of a Latino immigrant, who cannot attend a school in the United States of America, that kid should be a concern to all of us and our responsibility."

Shakira, a native of Colombia, made the comments when asked about proposed measures in Arizona and elsewhere targeting illegal immigrants. A bill in Arizona, for example, would bar illegal immigrants from attending public schools, living in public housing or driving. Another bill seeks to deny citizenship to children born in the United States if their parents are illegal immigrants.

"I believe we should never think less of the Latino community because it's a productive force in this country," Shakira told The AP.

The singer was awarded the "2011 Artist of the Year" from the Harvard Foundation, the university's center for intercultural arts and science initiatives.

Foundation director S. Allen Counter said Shakira, who has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, was honored for her "distinguished history of creativity," as well as charitable contributions.

Previous winners of the award include Sharon Stone, Will Smith, Jackie Chan and Herbie Hancock.