[09/02/07 10:00] "Being stopped on the street and being body-searched by a soldier can leave an imprint for years. Younger human beings have less ability to see the context and understand why people behave the way they do - their time perspective is different," said Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg while addressing the Belfast-based Children's Law Centre Annual Lecture 2007 in Belfast City Hall.
In his speech, the Commissioner also stressed the importance of a complete ban on the corporal punishment for children.
During this visit to Belfast, Mr Hammarberg met with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner, the Prison Commissioner, the Equality Commissioner, and the Commissioner for Children and Young Persons. He also held discussions with representatives of human rights NGOs, and trade unions, and visited a travellers' site at Monagh. The Commissioner also had an extensive meeting with members of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights' Forum.
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Read the Commissioner's speech