The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed progress towards gender equality and put women in a dire and vulnerable situation in many parts of the world, according to the World Health Organization’s Assistant Director-General.

WHO, along with UN Women, lead the Action Coalition on Gender Based Violence and will announce concrete commitments this week in Paris, at the Generation Equality Forum.

Dr. Princess Nothemba Simelela, better known as ‘Dr. Nono’ has dedicated her life to women’s health, with more than 30 years of experience as an obstetrician, academic, advocate and government official.

She spoke to UN News’s Laura Quinones and said it’s time to leave the ‘empty promises’ behind, and give women a real seat at the table.