Quebec Women's Federation president Alexa Conradi says she wasn't surprised the Conservatives tabled a motion to kill the gun registry. (CBC)

The head of Quebec's major women's group says more needs to be done to combat violence against women and that includes saving the federal gun registry.

Alexa Conradi, president of the Quebec Women's Federation, said Monday she wasn't surprised the Conservatives had tabled a motion this month in Parliament to kill the registry.

"Where it is surprising is the lack of political leadership of both the NDP and the Liberals that allowed this second round of voting to lead to possibly the elimination of the gun registry," she said.

Conradi was attending the announcement of activities at the Université du Québec à Montréal to mark the 20th anniversary of Marc Lepine's murderous rampage at the University of Montreal's engineering school.

Fourteen women were killed and many other students and staff were wounded in the slaughter at École polytechnique on Dec. 6, 1989.

The registry is often described by relatives of the victims as their daughters' legacy because many of the families were part of efforts to create it.

Conradi, who was a junior college student at the time of the shootings, said the registry provides vital information on gun ownership to police.

Organizing rally

Conradi's group is organizing a rally on Dec. 6 to mark the anniversary of the school killings, the worst mass shooting in Canada.

"We've certainly made incredible progress when it comes to legislation, public awareness, the role the police play when there's conjugal violence," she said, adding that work still needs to be done and education efforts need to continue.

École polytechnique will hold three public events to mark the anniversary in addition to a private memorial service to be attended by staff, graduates, injured survivors and the families of victims.

The public events will include the distribution of white ribbons — the symbol of opposition to violence — and the awarding of a scholarship to a female or male student whose research focuses on understanding or eliminating violence against women.

The other event will be an exhibition of posters, photos and documents which suggest how positive actions can help advance society.

"The Dec. 6 tragedy will forever mark the history of the Université de Montréal community and beyond," university rector Luc Vinet said.

"The white ribbons we wear annually symbolize how 20 years later we still vividly remember and demonstrate the compassion we retain for the friends and families of these exceptional women" who were slain, he added.

The University of Quebec in Montreal will also host several events, including a Dec. 4-6 conference that looks at violence against women by men.

As well, the university's art gallery will present a exhibition by the Guerrilla Girls, the internationally known co-operative of anonymous female artists.

The artists, who wear gorilla masks at public appearances, will focus their Disturbing the Peace show on violence against women and misogyny in society.