Published Friday, 03 February 2012
Close to half of the 118 beatings and shootings between April 2010 and September last year were carried out on victims under 25.
The board's annual human rights assessment also highlighted that 71 of those victims were assaulted and 47 were shot.
Members of the board said it was worrying that so few perpetrators were caught and brought to justice.
"A key concern for the HRPS Committee is paramilitary-style assaults and shootings and the low clearance rate (4%) of this serious crime," said Conall McDevitt, Chair of the board's Human Rights and Professional Standards (HRPS) committee.
"Figures from the report show that between 1 April 2010 and 30 September 2011, 44% of these attacks have been against 16 to 24-year-olds.
The board is recommending that the PSNI should consider what further measures are required to protect people from such attacks, and that the PSNI should develop a strategy for addressing attacks on children and young people, who are particularly vulnerable.
Board member Conall McDevitt
The report will be launched in Londonderry on Friday and details the extent of terrorist activity carried out in Northern Ireland last year.
As well as 72 shootings, between April 2010 and March 2011, there were 99 recorded bomb incidents, 86 firearms and 2,574 ammunition rounds found and 2.9kg of explosives recovered in searches.
Of the almost 50,000 people stopped and searched, more than 1,700 were arrested, and almost half involved were under 25.
The report also shows 17 criminal charges, including perverting the course of justice, careless driving, threats to kill and misconduct in public office, were brought against 13 PSNI officers during the same period.
Concluding the report, the board members noted that between April and September 2011, 350 AEP baton rounds were fired. During two nights of disorder in east Belfast in the summer 130 were fired, and 175 in July. Members said there should be a review of how AEPS were deployed.
Public complaints against the PSNI were down by 6% from3,542 in 2009/10 to 3,313 last year.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott said overall the report endorsed the PSNI's approach to human rights policing.
Human Rights are enshrined in every aspect of our work, from dealing with issues of local concern to those of national security and serious harm.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues in the PSNI for their commitment to delivering a human rights centred policing service to all the people of Northern Ireland."
The committee has made 16 recommendations to the police, and board chair Brian Rea said the report, which also highlighted good police practice, is a chance to further explore areas of improvement in the PSNI.
"Since 2005 the PSNI has implemented 176 recommendations contained within Human Rights Annual Reports and has also accepted 43 recommendations made in the two Thematic Reviews published by the board to date.
"This shows a very positive record in terms of PSNI commitment to human rights compliance."