OTTAWA--On the twentieth anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, students are calling on the federal government to develop a national strategy to end violence against women.

"Today we remember and honour the 14 women, who were murdered for choosing to study in a traditionally male discipline," said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "December sixth is an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the continued reality of violence against women."

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 female undergraduate students experience some form of sexual abuse."Ending gender-based violence requires us to address the cycle of poverty and inequality," added Giroux-Bougard. "Students are calling on the federal government to develop a coordinated national strategy to end gender-based violence, that both empowers women and addresses the factors that lead to abuse."

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 Ecole Polytechnique murders.

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