Many people, mostly young people, gathered en masse outside the Mongolia’s parliament in Ulaanbaatar on Saturday to demand tighter laws and preventative measures to combat child abuse following the recent rape of a minor.

After the crime was reported earlier this month in the southeastern province of Dornogobi, concerned mothers created a Facebook group announcing the Saturday protest.

The campaigners – who held aloft placards bearing slogans such as ‘Stop child abuse,’ ‘No child rape’ and ‘Our children, our future’ – are also calling for greater social awareness and the establishment of public services for survivors.

The government responded by saying that the cabinet will discuss the issue as soon as an organised list of proposals is received.

Some advocates have proposed that the punishment for sex offenders be increased to the death penalty, but the organisers of Saturday’s rally said they are opposed to the reintroduction of capital punishment.

Between 2015 and 2016, a total of 298 child rapes were reported, the state prosecutor’s office said. However, the real figure is believed to be much higher.