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  • [ September 7, 2026 ] 2026 Elections: What’s at Stake for Favelas When Brazilians Cast Votes at the Ballot Box? #ParticipationWatch
  • [ August 31, 2026 ] Prior to Elections, Rio de Janeiro State Legislature Revives ‘Wild West Bonus’ and Elects Its Author Chair of Human Rights Commission #UPPWatch
  • [ August 29, 2026 ] ‘I Miss Everything’: Reflections from Conceição Queiroz Ten Years After Being Evicted from Vila Autódromo for the Olympic Games [INTERVIEW] #EvictionsWatch
  • [ August 28, 2026 ] From Concrete to Food: Collective Action Transforms Abandoned Reservoir Into Community Garden in Complexo do Alemão [IMAGES] *Highlight
  • [ August 23, 2026 ] 10 Years After Olympics, Rio’s Chronically Neglected Suburban Rail System Is Handed Over to New Consortium, Nova Via Mobilidade #LegacyWatch
HomePacifying Police Unit (UPP)

Pacifying Police Unit (UPP)

*Highlight

World Cup Final Protest Met with Severely Disproportionate Force, Arrests & Police Brutality

By Elena Hodges • July 15, 2014

Clique aqui para Português On the afternoon of the 2014 World Cup final, as Rio’s Maracanã stadium filled with soccer fans, demonstrators congregated just 2km away in the Saens Peña square, in Tijuca, North Zone, regrouping […]

#UPPWatch

As World Cup Ends, UPP Stalled & Army Occupation Continues in Maré

By Celina Sorboe • July 13, 2014

Three months have passed since the occupation of the 16 favelas that make up the Complexo da Maré. The occupation by the army is a first step towards establishing a Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) in […]

Research & Analysis

UPPs and Spatial and Symbolic Segregation in Rio

By Désirée Poets • July 7, 2014

Since the period of transition from military dictatorship to democracy in the 1970s and 80s, Rio de Janeiro’s reputation for social, political and spatial division has only become more consolidated. The city became infamous for its […]

Civil Society

Rio’s Long Road to Full Citizenship for All

By Celina Sorboe • June 30, 2014

What does it mean to be a citizen? At bare minimum, formal citizenship refers to membership in the political community, based on the concept of national belonging. A more inclusive citizenship means the right of […]

#GentrificationWatch

Vidigal Debates Gentrification with Public Authorities in Fourth “Fala Vidigal” Event

By Michel Jaquet • June 28, 2014

Clique aqui para Português On Tuesday June 3, the Vila Vidigal Neighborhood Association, the Intersectoral Forum of Vidigal, Albergue da Comunidade, Vidblog Vidigal, ONG Horizonte and Catalytic Communities hosted the final of four debates in the “Fala Vidigal” series looking at 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

  • Home
    • Highlighted Stories
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  • Communities
    • Central
    • South Zone
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  • 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
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