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  • [ December 4, 2025 ] Portrait of a Centenary-Old Favela of Stilt Houses: Belém’s Vila da Barca Resists, Organizes and Fights for Sanitation and Adequate Housing #HousingWatch
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  • [ November 15, 2025 ] ‘There’s No Such Thing as Normal After a Massacre’: One Week After Police Mega-Operation Kills 121 People, Residents From Complexos do Alemão and Penha Speak Out #UPPWatch
  • [ November 13, 2025 ] ‘Human Beings Forget That They Are Nature’: Favelas Teach the Path to the Future at the 2nd Favela Sustainability Festival Civil Society
  • [ November 12, 2025 ] Food Sovereignty and Culinary Heritage Connect with Fight for Climate Justice at the 2nd Sustainable Favela Festival Civil Society
HomeWar on Drugs

War on Drugs

*Highlight

When Turning 20, What Does a Young Black Man Celebrate?

By Marco Aurélio Barreto Lima • Translation by Rachel Brabbins • November 20, 2017

Clique aqui para Português For the original in Portuguese by Marco Aurélio Barreto Lima published on Justificando click here. Celebrating a birthday, especially when you’re young, is usually a joyous moment. It’s a time for reflecting […]

#LegacyWatch

In Favelas, Almost 70% See Failings in UPPs but a Majority Wants Them to Stay

By Paula Bianchi • Translation by Cara D’Rosario • October 5, 2017

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Paula Bianchi in Portuguese published by UOL Notícias, click here. Nearly ten years since its creation, the Pacifying Police Units (UPP) project is almost on its knees. With 38 […]

#UPPWatch

“Is It War?” A Debate on the Language About Violence in Favelas

By Sophie Pizzimenti • September 11, 2017

Clique aqui para Português In light of the increasing tensions in Rio de Janeiro favelas such as Complexo da Maré, Jacarezinho, and Complexo do Alemão, Brazilian and global media are increasingly describing the city’s situation […]

Civil Society

Favela Youth Launch ‘Movimentos’ Platform, Take Role as Protagonists in Drug Policy Discussion

By Luiza Sansão • Translation by Ava Rose Hoffman • September 8, 2017

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Luiza Sansão in Portuguese published by Ponte Jornalismo click here. Resulting from a year’s work with the support of specialists in public security and drugs, the project […]

by Causa Operaria
#UPPWatch

Deadly ‘Vengeance’ Operation Demonstrates Rio’s Failed Police Policy

By Tyler Strobl • August 31, 2017

Clique aqui para Português “You made a terrible mistake. We will relentlessly get rid of you; I am not afraid of using these words. I’m not scared of human rights. It’s not going to stop. […]

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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

  • Home
    • Highlighted Stories
    • Understanding Rio
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  • Communities
    • Central
    • South Zone
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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
    • Our Reporting Policy
    • License
    • Feedback
  • For Journos
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