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  • [ March 5, 2026 ] ‘Valongo’s New Blacks Cemetery’ Trilogy Reveals Deep Roots of Structural Racism and Urban Inequality in Rio [BOOK REVIEW] by Community Contributors
  • [ February 28, 2026 ] Meet the CIEPs: In Rio de Janeiro, An Ahead-of-Its-Time Education Policy Turns 40 Having Resisted Decades of Dismantling *Highlight
  • [ February 20, 2026 ] Brazil Elections 2026: Favela Communicators Fight Misinformation and Digital Vulnerability #CommunityMedia
  • [ February 15, 2026 ] Violent Rains Ravage Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas—Causing Floods and Landslides Ahead of Carnival—Show #VoicesFromSocialMedia #CommunityMedia
  • [ February 13, 2026 ] Queens from the Favelas: Meet Homegrown Rhythm Section Queens Upholding Black, Peripheral and Female Leadership in Rio’s Carnival *Highlight
HomeBOPE

BOPE

Bira's work equipment, a photographic camera, was found inside the toilet.
Policies

Does Citizenship have a Post Code? Collective Warrants and Illegal Searches in Pre-UPP Maré

By Cecília Olliveira • Translation by Charlotte Livingstone • May 6, 2013

For the original in Portuguese by Cecília Oliveira on Arma Branca click here. Does citizenship have a post code? This question may seem absurd for some, yet spot-on for others, and it is what favela […]

#EvictionsWatch

What moves Rio State Governor, Sérgio Cabral, against the Indians?

By Marcelo Auler • Translation by Laura Ribeiro Rodrigues Pereira • January 16, 2013

For original article in Jornal do Brasil click here. On Saturday, January 12, a scene unfolded in Rio de Janeiro which to the untrained eye appeared anachronistic to the 21st Century: a heavily armed battalion […]

#CommunityMedia

Community Perspectives on the Occupation of Jacarezinho and Manguinhos

By Felicity Clarke • October 15, 2012

In the early hours of Sunday morning, the favelas of Jacarezinho and Manguinhos were occupied by BOPE (Special Forces Battalion) assisted by Navy tanks, military police (PMs), civil police and Federal Highway Police aircraft in preparation for […]

Understanding Rio

The Show Resumes: Gang Strife Returns to Rocinha

By International Observers • March 26, 2012

Unreported in the local press, gang strife has returned to Rocinha. On the night of March 18th a shoot-out occurred between the remaining drug traffickers and Shock troops currently occupying Rocinha. The shoot-out left three […]

#Rio2016

UPP Social and Participation: How Not to Integrate Rio

By Tom Smith • December 6, 2011

“Now, we will pay our historic debt to Rocinha. The UPP Social will be here every day, represented by our local managers. History has changed: the city will no longer be divided but become integrated” […]

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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.

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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

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  • Violations
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    • Government Neglect
  • Organizing
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  • Content Map
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    • Video Stories
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