OTTAWA--On the twenty-first anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, students offer remembrance and continue to call on the federal government to develop a national strategy to end violence against women.

"December 6 is an important occasion for Canadians to reflect on the existence of violence against women in our society" said Heather Laube, National Women's Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Violence continues to be perpetuated against women in all communities, including on university and college campuses."

Violence against women is the most widespread and persistent human rights violation in the world. In Canada more than 50% of women will experience violence at some point in their lives, most before the age of 25. In a given year more than one in ten Canadian women suffer physical abuse at the hands of their partners and 25% of women undergraduate students experience some form of sexual abuse.

"Students in this country continue to remember the 14 women who died twenty-one years ago in an act of gender-based violence", says Roxanne Dubois, National Treasurer of the Canadian Federation of Students. "We continue our call for the federal government to take concrete actions to stop violence against women.

Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day marks the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique murders.

The Canadian Federation of Students encourages students from across the country to commemorate the Montreal Massacre and to attend December 6 events on campuses.

Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students from ten provinces.