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Latest News
  • [ October 23, 2026 ] ‘We Are at Risk of Losing Everything We Hold Most Precious:’ What’s at Stake When Brazilians Head to the Polls This Sunday [OPINION] #CoronavirusWatch
  • [ October 22, 2026 ] What Do Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro Policy Platforms Intend For Favelas? #UPPWatch
  • [ October 21, 2026 ] Grassroots Movements Across the State of Rio Held 300 Pro-Democracy Rallies This Month, Show #VoicesFromSocialMedia #ParticipationWatch
  • [ October 20, 2026 ] Polling Location Changes in Favelas That Typically Support Lula Led to Significant Abstentions in Brazil’s First Round Voting, Raising Profound Ethical Questions #ParticipationWatch
  • [ October 19, 2026 ] Rio de Janeiro Public Security Experts Identify Priority Areas to Address Decades of Failed Policies #UPPWatch
HomePacifying Police Unit (UPP)

Pacifying Police Unit (UPP)

#UPPWatch

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes Halts Tribute to Amarildo de Souza, Blocking Street Name Change in Rocinha

By Igor Soares, Rodrigo Silva • Translation by Kay Alvito • December 20, 2024

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Igor Soares and Rodrigo Silva published in Fala Roça, click here. RioOnWatch translated this article to update our English-speaking audience on a critical story we covered […]

#CommunityMedia

The Challenges Faced by Community Journalists in the Largest Favela Complex of Rio de Janeiro’s Baixada Fluminense

By Fabio Leon • Translation by Staff • October 23, 2023

Clique aqui para Português Check out our complete series of community media profiles here. Complexo da Mangueirinha, in Duque de Caxias, is the largest cluster of favelas in Greater Rio de Janeiro’s Baixada Fluminense region. […]

#MediaWatch

The Criminal and the Vagrant: Brazilian Mass Media’s Bloody Discourse Defends White Privilege and Sentences Favelas [EDITORIAL]

By RioOnWatch Editorial • Translation by Angus Beazley • March 30, 2023

Clique aqui para Português Last year on June 22, veteran CNN Brasil commentator Boris Casoy gave his analysis of the pre-trial detention of Milton Ribeiro in Santos, São Paulo. Former education minister for then-president Jair […]

#EvictionsWatch

The Fate of Residents in Rio’s Skol Favela Illustrates How the Right to Housing is a Key Piece in Rio’s Political Game of Chess (Part 1)

By Tatiana Lima • Translation by Ujwala Murthy • October 24, 2022

Clique aqui para Português This is the first of a two-part article about the twelve-year struggle for housing by Favela da Skol residents, revealing Rio de Janeiro’s political backstage during an election year. The game […]

*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 […]

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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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    • Government Neglect
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  • Content Map
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      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
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