The African Union’s Agenda 2063 requires African countries to be among the best performers in measures on global quality of life. That was said by the Gender Equality and Research Director, Victor Shipoh, at the Africa Day of Decentralisation held at Opuwo in the Kunene Region. Shipoh said the Namibian government was committed to gender parity in public and private institutions and supported the removal of all forms of gender discrimination. The Gender Equality and Child Welfare Ministry mobilises concerted efforts towards immediate ending of child marriages and other harmful cultural practices discriminating against women. Shipoh said gender, equity and women empowerment were key to achieving the United Nations Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals. He said women and youth empowerment remained critical for the effective implementation of AU Agenda 2063 of achieving a better Africa. The director expressed the need to empower rural women to be equal participants in programmes their urban colleagues part-took in. Shipoh believes that incidences of gender-based violence will only decrease if all stakeholders unite in the fight against it.