MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged leaders of the legislative and executive branches on Wednesday to give attention to human rights bills, such as those classifying torture and enforced disappearances as crimes, and not only to legislation pertaining to the economy.

CHR Chairman Leila de Lima made the call in time for the meeting on Thursday of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

De Lima said the LEDAC was set to discuss the priority bills.

"Without attention to human rights, including economic, social, and cultural rights, any economic growth will be meaningless to most Filipinos," De Lima said in a statement.

The CHR pointed out that aside from ensuring the "country's economic health," the government should also take into consideration the impact of the global recession on the "micro-level" such as hunger, housing, income, and access to basic services, all of which fall under a people's economic, social, and cultural rights.

"Human rights and the economy are both pillars of good democratic governance," de Lima said.

The CHR reiterated that trade relations and technical assistance "are becoming increasingly related to human rights in the minds of investors, foreign governments, and international partners."

It cited a recent report by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for Business and Human Rights to the UN Human Rights Council that in times of recession, human rights concerns in business should all the more be addressed.

The CHR said the UN Representative, Prof. John Ruggie, reported that "human rights are more at risk in times of crisis and economic crisis pose a particular risk to economic and social rights."

The CHR is pushing for a "Human Rights Legislative Agenda" that includes bills to criminalize torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances and bills on human rights education and a framework law on the right to food.