The public universities of Andalusia have demanded this Monday a "transparent and agile" investigation that allows justice to be done "as soon as possible" for the murder of Claudia Tacoronte Aguilera, a student at the University of Granada (UGR) who was on an exchange in Mexico. The rector of the Granada institution, Pedro Mercado, has described what happened as a "brutal act" and has trusted that those responsible "will be identified and brought to justice."
In a joint statement, the Andalusian universities have expressed their "deepest pain" and their "firm condemnation" of what happened. They have also expressed their support to the family and the university community of Granada and have stressed their commitment to "the dignity of people, the urgent need for peaceful coexistence and the rejection of all forms of violence, especially against women for the simple fact of being women."
The president of the association of the Public Universities of Andalusia and the rector of the Pablo de Olavide University (UPO), Francisco Oliva, has assured that he is in "shock" and has regretted that the life of a young woman has been "skewed," "and with it that of an entire family." The universities will also study whether it is necessary to adopt measures for students who are doing academic stays in Mexico, one of the most in-demand Latin American destinations, as Oliva explained to Europa Press.
Claudia Tacoronte, 21 years old and from the Canary Islands, was in her fourth year of Early Childhood Education and was doing an academic mobility stay at the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos (UAEM). The young woman was stabbed to death this Saturday at the Cuautla House of Culture, about 100 kilometers south of Mexico City. The Prosecutor's Office initially investigates the crime as femicide while trying to determine if there were gender reasons.
"Deep sadness" and "institutional anger"
The University of Granada has expressed its "firmest rejection and absolute condemnation" for the murder and has conveyed its "deepest condolences, solidarity and affection" to the family, relatives and colleagues of the victim. Mercado has assured that the news has caused "deep sadness" and "a lot of institutional anger" and, in an interview on Canal Sur Radio, he has defined what happened as a "brutal act."
The UGR activated its international protocol as soon as it became aware of the crime and contacted the Consulate and the Embassy of Spain in Mexico to "learn more about the circumstances of the events." He also contacted the young woman's family to "help and accompany them in this ordeal and on the trip to Mexico." The authorities of the state of Morelos have also contacted the Spanish Consulate in Mexico to offer support and accompaniment to the family.
The University has also reiterated the "imperative need to eradicate all forms of violence against women", in line with its commitment to the "defense of human rights and the construction of critical thinking." The UGR has called this Monday at 11:00 a.m. for a minute of silence in memory of Claudia at the doors of all its work centers.
The Board offers support to the family
The Department of University, Industry, Energy and Innovation of the Government of Andalusia has offered, for its part, "all the necessary support and assistance" to the young woman's family and has made itself "at the complete disposal" of the University of Granada and the Spanish consular authorities in Mexico.
The Andalusian Government has also encouraged participation in the minute of silence called by the UGR, "as a sign of mourning and rejection" for the murder of the student.
