A committee of the United Nations called on Iran on Monday to stop “serious violations” against children during the suppression of protests in that country, writes AFP.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child said in a statement that “serious violations of children’s rights in Iran must be thoroughly investigated by competent, independent and impartial authorities.”

According to the commission, at least 23 children have been killed by Iranian security forces and hundreds more have been injured, detained and tortured during recent peaceful human rights protests at home and abroad.

As of October 14, Amnesty International has already mourned the deaths of at least 23 children.

The committee “strongly condemns the serious violations of children’s rights taking place in Iran in the context of the peaceful protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini” in police custody.

The protests were sparked on September 16 by the death of a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, three days after she was arrested by morality police for not wearing a headscarf.

Citing credible reports, the committee said some children were shot with live ammunition, while others died after being beaten.

“Many families reported that although they were grieving the loss of their child, they were pressured to release law enforcement, claiming that their child committed suicide and making false confessions,” the statement continued.

The Committee is also deeply concerned about reports of arrests of children in schools, detention with adults and torture.