The University of Granada is mourning the death of Claudia Tacoronte Aguilera, a 21-year-old student from the Canary Islands who was killed while studying in Mexico. The university condemned the violence and held a minute of silence across its campuses in her memory.
Claudia was in her fourth year of Early Childhood Education and taking part in a mobility program at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM). Initial reports said she was attacked in Cuautla, near the Casa de la Cultura, on the evening of September 12. Spanish and Mexican authorities have taken an interest in the case. The Consulate General of Spain in Mexico City is in close contact with her family and local investigators.
UAEM classified the crime as femicide and called for a thorough investigation that takes a gender perspective. It also opened channels of communication with Claudia’s family through the University of Granada and Spanish consular authorities.
The University of Granada released a statement offering condolences to Claudia’s family and the university community, where friends and classmates are mourning her loss. Its leadership has offered support to her relatives and is working with Spanish consular officials to assist them.
The university also reaffirmed its commitment to defending human rights and called for an end to violence against women. The minute of silence, held at 11 a.m. on September 14 at the entrance to every university building, honored Claudia and protested gender-based violence. Infobae and other Spanish media reported that the University of Granada has remained in direct contact with the Spanish Consulate and Claudia’s family since the incident.
Spanish diplomatic sources confirmed that the Consulate General is closely following the investigation and remains in contact with Mexican judicial authorities. It aims to clarify the circumstances of Claudia’s death and support her family through the legal and administrative process. Mexican authorities, including the Morelos state prosecutor’s office, are treating the case as femicide and following established protocols for violent deaths of women, several independent agencies reported. The governor of Morelos, Margarita González Saravia, confirmed the murder and said local authorities were in contact with the Spanish consulate to support the family. Cuautla is about 100 km south of Mexico City.
Academic exchanges give students the chance to learn about new cultures, but Claudia’s death highlights the risks they can face while studying abroad, particularly in areas where safety is a concern. The University of Granada’s response points to the need for stronger protections for students in international programs. As Spain continues to encourage educational mobility, universities must weigh its benefits against their responsibility to keep students safe, especially women. Institutional support and action are needed to confront violence that affects families and communities across borders.
