New York, 23 October 2026 — The Empire State Building lit up in honor of women peacebuilders around the world on Thursday, illuminating the New York skyline with a powerful message: women’s leadership is indispensable to building peace, and that leadership must be recognized, supported, and sustained.
Hosted by the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), the lighting took place as the Fund marks its 10th anniversary and world leaders gather for the annual UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) next week. WPHF Global Advocate Kristen Bell joined the celebration, shining a spotlight on the women working on the front lines of conflict and crisis to protect their communities, defend rights, and build peace.
“If you give women on the front lines real resources and trust them, they will change their communities. That’s what I’ve learned and seen during my eight years working with WPHF,” said WPHF Global Advocate Kristen Bell. “Tonight, as we look up, let’s remember the women who keep the doors of their homes open, walk alongside survivors, and build peace when no one is watching.”
WPHF Global Advocate Kristen Bell joined Tonni Brodber, Head of the WPHF Secretariat, and Pascale Solages, a WPHF-supported partner from Haiti, to celebrate the Fund’s 10th anniversary and the work of women building peace worldwide. Photo: UN Women/Mazlum Guzel
Bringing this message beyond the halls of the United Nations and into one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, the lighting celebrated the local women-led civil society organizations working in some of the world’s most challenging contexts. Over the past decade, WPHF has helped ensure that these organizations, often among the first to respond when crises strike and the last to leave when the headlines fade, have the resources to lead change.
“What women are doing today and how they respond reminds us that, in times of uncertainty and division, we need unity and solidarity,” said Tonni Brodber, Head of the WPHF Secretariat. “Over the last 10 years, WPHF has proudly supported over 2,000 women’s organizations doing the work that matters. Today, investing in their leadership is needed more than ever.”
The lighting also brought the voices of women peacebuilders to the forefront. Pascale Solages, a WPHF-supported partner from Haiti, highlighted the leadership and resilience of women amid escalating violence, bringing attention to their realities and the vital role of local women-led organizations in protecting their rights and meeting their needs.
“We’re living through one of the most dangerous moments in our country’s history, but Haitian women are not only victims and survivors. We are fighters. We are leaders. We provide women and girls with all kinds of support,” said Pascale Solages, a WPHF-supported partner from Haiti. “My message is simple: stand with women around the world, invest in us, trust our knowledge, and include us in the decisions that affect us.”
As WPHF Global Advocate, Kristen Bell called on the world to stand with women like Pascale Solages – who are “getting the work done” to build peace, protect rights, and transform communities across the globe. Photo: UN Women/Mazlum Guzel
The lighting of the Empire State Building is part of WPHF’s ongoing efforts to spotlight women peacebuilders through iconic global landmarks. Earlier this month, Geneva’s Jet d’Eau illuminated to mark the opening of the Global Women’s Peace Forum, which brought together more than 50 women peacebuilders, humanitarians, and human rights defenders from around the world. Over the past decade, landmarks like the London Eye and Toronto’s CN Tower have also lit up in recognition of women’s leadership and their vital contributions to peace.
As WPHF celebrates 10 years of supporting women on the front lines of conflict and crisis, the message is clear: women’s leadership is not an addition to peacebuilding; it is essential to it. Public recognition must be matched by the flexible, accessible, and sustained financing that enables women-led organizations to continue their work, influence decisions, and shape the future of their communities.
At night, the iconic Empire State Building light in WPHF colors. Photo: Courtesy of the Empire State Building
About the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)
The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is a global funding mechanism providing flexible and rapid support to local women’s organizations and women human rights defenders working on the front lines of conflict and crisis. Established in 2016, WPHF has become a proven innovation within the United Nations system, working with UN entities, governments, civil society, and other partners to ensure that women have the resources they need to lead change in their communities.
