In India as in the United States, the current climate surrounding efforts to secure and protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities can be tense. While queerness has gradually become accepted in some parts of the country, it continues to be feared and misunderstood in others, where community members face relentless verbal and physical abuse.

Human trafficking remains a significant problem globally, and women and girls pay the highest price. India is no exception; according to estimates, human trafficking affects between 20 and 65 million people in the country.

As is the case globally, the problem of gender-based violence in India and Bangladesh is exacerbated by deeply-rooted patriarchal social structures. Women and girls are discriminated against right from birth, and gender disparities are present in education, work environments, and everyday life.

Between early 2020 and the summer of 2022, Silence Speaks partnered with individuals and groups around the world to support online community-building and the sharing of pandemic experiences.