A/HRC/45/39 reports on some regions that there were disadvantages for persons with disabilities, mainly girls and women with disabilities in rural areas, but also some progress made in shifting from the medical model to the social model in disability assessment and assistance (E/2019/20, para. 38). Older persons and persons with disabilities should be given more attention in national policies and programmes, bearing in mind projected demographic changes. States should take into account the different types of disabilities, which require different kinds of assistance. 48. Many countries, including Canada and countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, referred to measures taken in favour of indigenous peoples. A bilateral programme adopted by the human rights commissions of New Zealand and the Philippines, focusing on the Maori community in New Zealand and three indigenous communities in the Philippines, involved the direct participation of indigenous peoples in their own development, as well as local government. 49. Serious challenges remain with regard to protecting the ecosystems of indigenous peoples, their forests and traditionally used lands and protecting them against the impact of climate change. UNDP referred to the need for new models of governance and management, in order to ensure that the 375 million indigenous peoples, whose lands account for 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity and a quarter of ground carbon stocks, have secure rights and protection.12 In the political declaration of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, indigenous peoples are included among the vulnerable people whose needs are reflected in the 2030 Agenda. 50. A few countries referred to specific challenges faced by migrants, including access to health care, education, in particular for migrant children, and the labour market and difficulties in ensuring decent living conditions. The large number of migrants in Western Asia was mentioned, as well as the need to promote migrant’s rights in the Asia and the Pacific region. The Economic Commission for Africa clarified that most Africans migrate within the continent and referred to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. 51. Only a few countries mentioned measures to ameliorate the situation of migrants, including those taken in Latin America and in Mediterranean cities. None referred to asylum seekers or refugees, who are in principle protected by some norms of international law, but are facing many challenges in the exercise of their human rights, such as discrimination in access to employment, education and housing, nor to internally displaced persons, who should be protected by the States concerned. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, a non-legally binding framework based on existing international instruments and commitments accepted by Member States, was adopted by the General Assembly in 2018, with the understanding that States would cooperate in order to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration, including the full respect for human rights and humane treatment of migrants, regardless of their migration status, refugees and displaced persons. National policies should include in development plans and programmes measures to ensure respect for the human rights of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons, as vulnerable groups under many Sustainable Development Goals. 52. It is recognized that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons are victims of ignorance, lack of understanding, intolerance and limited access to political participation. Only a few countries (Australia, Austria, Bolivia and Canada) and cities (Barcelona and Vienna) had measures in place for the protection of their human rights. C. Development as a means of building societies in which no one is left behind 53. The 2030 Agenda reflects the importance of sustainable development for creating conditions for improved livelihoods. Targets, such as ensuring significant financial resources, doubling agricultural productivity, investing in rural infrastructure, supporting 12 12 Statement by a representative of UNDP, 16 July 2018.