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Latest News
  • [ 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
  • [ December 24, 2025 ] ‘No One in Terra Firme Will Sleep Hungry Today!’ Amid Adversity, Belém Favela Initiatives Distribute 2,200 Meals During COP30 With Support from the People’s Summit Solidarity Kitchen *Highlight
Homemisperceptions

misperceptions

Baixada no Twitter. Photo by Igor de Freitas Lima
Perceptions

The Baixada Fluminense on Twitter: An Analysis of News and Perceptions

By Fábio Silva • Translation by Sharonya Vadakattu • January 16, 2018

Clique aqui para Português For the original article in Portuguese by Fábio Silva published by data_labe click here. How do you refer to the place where you live? How do you perceive your space and […]

#LegacyWatch

A Year of Violent Tragedy Through Human Stories: 2017 in Complexo do Alemão

By Alejandra S. Inzunza, José Luis Pardo • Translation by Sarah Jacobs • January 3, 2018

Clique aqui para Português For the original article in Portuguese by Alejandra S. Inzunza and José Luis Pardo published by investigative news agency Agência Pública click here. From the grandmother who can’t fetch her grandkids from […]

*Highlight

Social Constructions of the Favela Part 4: Tourist Perceptions Before and After Favela Tours

By Phie van Rompu • May 6, 2017

Clique aqui para Português This is the fourth article in a four-part series on the social constructions of favelas and the potential of favela tourism to break down negative stereotypes. The first two articles of this series […]

*Highlight

Structural Violence Through the Dangerous ‘Othering’ of Favela Residents

By Christian Kuitert • January 11, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Edward Saïd’s theory of Orientalism offers a useful reference for considering the attitudes of wealthy Brazilians towards favela residents, as well as perhaps the perceptions of non-Brazilians towards Brazilians in general. […]

*Highlight

A Good Bandit Is…? It’s Time to Demystify Human Rights

By Luisa Fenizola • Translation by Laura Fairman • October 24, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Human rights are universal civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights, indivisible and inalienable. This means, simply, that they are valid for all, that under no circumstances can some be respected and […]

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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.
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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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    • Sustainability
    • Participation
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  • Content Map
    • by Community Contributors
    • by Int’l Observers
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      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
    • Photo-Essays
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  • About
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