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HomePublic Defenders

Public Defenders

#EvictionsWatch

Without Dialogue or Compensation, Rio de Janeiro City Hall Gives 10 Days Notice to Forcibly Evict the Santa Luzia Community, Which Over Decades Has Fought—And Won—Housing Rights Battles

By Fernanda Delatorre • Translation by Staff • January 15, 2025

Clique aqui para Português On January 8, 2025, residents of the Santa Luzia favela, located between the neighborhoods of Vargem Pequena and Vargem Grande in Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone, were blindsided by a ten-day […]

*Highlight

Three Years After Deadliest Massacre by Police in Rio de Janeiro History, Mothers of Jacarezinho Victims Continue Fighting for Justice

By Ramon Vellasco • Translation by Ujwala Murthy • May 23, 2024

Clique aqui para Português Three years have passed since the Jacarezinho Massacre, during which Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police (PCERJ) killed 28 residents in the deadliest police operation in Rio state history, the pain still […]

*Highlight

The Historical Public Security Debate in Rio de Janeiro: Hunted Humans Vs. Security of Rights [OPINION]

By Guilherme Pimentel • Translation by Staff • April 24, 2024

Clique aqui para Português For the original opinion piece written by Guilherme Pimentel and published in Brasil de Fato on April 18, 2024, click here. On the day I write this article, there are police […]

#EvictionsWatch

SOS! Vidigal Homes Demolished by Rio de Janeiro City Hall

By Barbara Nascimento • Translation by Nathan Bergrin • August 25, 2023

Clique aqui para Português Last week, on August 16, residents of Jaqueira in the Vidigal favela in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone experienced the removal of homes for the second time in four years. The […]

*Highlight

Rio de Janeiro City Council Launches First Ever Special Commission to Combat Racism

By Amanda Baroni Lopes • Translation by Cristina Fornara • May 26, 2023

Clique aqui para Português On May 5, Rio de Janeiro City Council members launched a Special Commission to Combat Racism at the Museum of Afro-Brazilian History and Culture (MUHCAB). This parliamentary working group is made […]

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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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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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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
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    • Sanitation
  • Violations
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    • Police Violence
    • Government Neglect
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  • Content Map
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