Melinda, 56, appeared on stage at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris Wednesday  

'If we lift up women... those women and girls will lift up everybody else,' she told the audience Wednesday

Melinda said the Gates Foundation will direct $2.1 billion over the next five years to advancing gender equality

This includes $1.4 billion for health and family planning, $100 million for helping women get into ledership positions and $650 million to focus on economic empowerment

Her wedding ring was notably absent from her left hand, following the Gates' divorce announcement in May 

Bill continues to be rocked by claims he behaved inappropriately toward female employees at Microsoft

Questions have also arisen in recent weeks over Bill's friendship with late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein