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Latest News
  • [ January 29, 2026 ] ‘It’s the Place of Resistance of Our Existence’: Duque de Caxias’ Culture Manor is a Hub for Art, Education and Leisure by Community Contributors
  • [ January 13, 2026 ] 10 Years Since the Rio Olympics: Vila Autódromo Continues to Resist Gentrification Pressures Amidst New ‘Olympic Barra’ Neighborhood #EvictionsWatch
  • [ January 8, 2026 ] COP30 Civil Society Rundown: Thousands of Communities and Social Movements, Representing Favelas, Indigenous, Quilombola and Other Marginalized Groups Fill Belém During COP30 [IMAGES] *Highlight
  • [ December 31, 2025 ] ‘What We Want Aren’t Bodies on the Ground… It’s Recognition of [Our] People Creating Solutions’: Penha Favelas Hold Composters and Integrated Health Events Highlighting Local Climate Memories *Highlight
  • [ December 26, 2025 ] 2025 Retrospective of Top International Reporting on Rio’s Favelas #MediaWatch
HomeReviews

Reviews

*Highlight

‘Pacified’ Film Emphasizes Human Relationships but Repeats Clichés About Drug Trafficking in Favelas [REVIEW]

By Rafael Lopes • Translation by Zaira Apolinario Chaplin • August 30, 2022

Clique aqui para Português Right away, the title of the movie Pacified grabs your attention. It’s difficult for those who experienced the setting up of the Pacifying Police Units (UPP), from 2008 onwards in the […]

#CommunityMedia

Favela Poets Share Narratives on their Lives and Territory in Unmissable Four-Act Sound Piece

By Gianna Giordani • March 4, 2021

Clique aqui para Português In times of sadness, anxiety and uncertainty, six diverse and multidisciplinary artists hailing from the favelas of Complexo da Maré have been a beacon of light in the darkness. In a […]

Lélia Gonzalez in an image with no date, according to Ana Maria Felippe - Lélia's friend - this was one the author's favorite pictures.
*Highlight

Rio’s Literary Festival of the Peripheries Celebrates Brazilian Black Feminist Pioneers [VIDEO]

By Pilar Boyero • November 23, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This article is published as part of Brazilian Black Awareness Month, celebrated every November around Black Consciousness Day on November 20. It is part of our reporting partnership with The Rio Times. For the article […]

#EvictionsWatch

Film ‘Mormaço’ Interweaves Fiction and Reality to Retell Story of Vila Autódromo Evictions [REVIEW]

By Carolina Medina Zárate • Translation by Cheyne Bull • June 9, 2019

Clique aqui para Português On May 8, the film Mormaço premiered at the Net Rio Theater in Botafogo, in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone. Directed by Marina Meliande with performances by Marina Provenzzano, Sandra Maria […]

#CommunityMedia

Documentary ‘Voz Ecoa’ Highlights Community-Based Sustainability Projects in Favelas [FILM REVIEW]

By Emma Bergman, Rachel Mucha • May 29, 2019

Clique aqui para Português On Saturday, May 11, Voz das Comunidades, a community-based newspaper and charitable organization from the favelas of Complexo do Alemão in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, launched the short documentary Voz […]

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RioOnWatch’s anti-racist reporting series won silver in the 2022 inaugural The Anthem Awards, in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category among Best Local Awareness Programs.
A Project of

About

In May 2010, Catalytic Communities launched what was originally Rio Olympics Neighborhood Watch (hence RioOnWatch), a program to bring visibility to favela community voices in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. This news site, RioOnWatch.org, grew into a much-needed and unique reference featuring favela perspectives on the urban transformation of Rio. With diverse and deeply interlinked articles by a mix of community reporters, resident opinions, solidarity reporters, international observers, and academic researchers, we work to engender a more accurate picture of favelas, their contributions to the city, and the potential of favela-led community development in Rio and around the world.

Contact & Support

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10 Years! Check Out Our Story:

Awards

Special Thanks

Fundação Heinrich Böll Brasil
World Habitat
Fideicomiso de la Tierra Caño Martín Peña
Pastoral de Favelas
Center for CLT Innovation
Global Land Alliance
Ecocity Builders
Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation
SDSU Behner Stiefel Center
The Rio Times
Forum Grita Baixada
Beto Paixão Graphic Design
Architecture Museum of Vienna
Yale School of Architecture

  • Home
    • Highlighted Stories
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  • Communities
    • Central
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    • Greater Rio
  • Policies
    • Public Security
    • Housing
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Health
    • Sanitation
  • Violations
    • Human Rights
    • Housing Rights
    • Police Violence
    • Government Neglect
  • Organizing
    • Community Organizing
    • Community Solution
    • Resistance
    • Sustainability
    • Participation
    • Protest
    • Culture
    • Responsible Tourism
  • Content Map
    • by Community Contributors
    • by Int’l Observers
    • Series
      • Anti-Racist Series
      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
    • Photo-Essays
    • Interviews/Profiles
    • Research & Analysis
    • Reviews
    • Listicles
    • Opinion
    • Reference
    • Podcasts
    • Translated Articles
  • About
    • Timeline
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