Kathmandu, Aug. 25 -- The rape and subsequent murder of a three-year-old girl in Jeetpur-Simara Sub-Metropolitan City of Bara district last week dominated the House of Representatives meeting on Monday, with lawmakers questioning whether existing laws and state institutions have done enough to protect women and children.

Some lawmakers, including ones from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, even called for a constitutional amendment to Article 16(2) to permit capital punishment for heinous crimes, arguing that Nepal's circumstances had changed since it committed itself to international instruments seeking abolition of the death penalty.

However, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam and Home Minister Sudan ...