In commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence from 25 November to 10 December, Ms Kealeboga Kelly Dambuza, SADC Secretariat Programme Officer - Gender Based Violence, Dr. Wang Xiying, a professor in the Faculty of Education at Beijing Normal University and I, discuss on the concerns faced by women and girls in the COVID-19 pandemic and how to overcome them.