Women Affairs Minister Zainab Maina has decried lack of appropriate penalties in to discourage violence against women.

She stated this yesterday during an interactive session with law enforcement officers to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, as part of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, organized by her ministry in Abuja.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, George Ossi, she lamented that the law has made it difficult to eliminate the problem and deter perpetrators.

"It has been observed that there are obstacles in the enforcement of existing laws and procedures that make it difficult for women to get relief from the existing legal frameworks," she said.