Dalit, translating to “oppressed,” refers to the people formerly known as “untouchables.” Dalit women are marginalized in Indian society due to their unique experience with the intersection of caste-based discrimination, gender oppression, and state-sanctioned policies. They are routinely denied access to education, healthcare, and basic rights. This exclusion and marginalization make them prime targets for forced sterilization, which is viewed by some as a way to control the reproductive capacity of marginalized communities.

In August 2021, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan’s government, bringing with them a sweeping series of socio-political reforms that have instituted a system of gender apartheid on Afghan women. Since taking power, the Taliban has issued over 80 edicts aimed at suppressing women and girls in Afghanistan and erasing them from public life. Passed in August 2024, the latest in this series of edicts, a ban on women speaking in public, demonstrates just how cruel and draconian the Taliban regime is when it comes to women's rights. These gender-based restrictions have further complicated the establishment of the Taliban’s diplomatic relations, particularly with the Western world, which largely views the edicts as extreme. This widespread international condemnation has often had unintended negative effects, deepening the suffering of the Afghan people without weakening the Taliban’s grip on power.