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Latest News
  • [ March 5, 2026 ] ‘Valongo’s New Blacks Cemetery’ Trilogy Reveals Deep Roots of Structural Racism and Urban Inequality in Rio [BOOK REVIEW] by Community Contributors
  • [ February 28, 2026 ] Meet the CIEPs: In Rio de Janeiro, An Ahead-of-Its-Time Education Policy Turns 40 Having Resisted Decades of Dismantling *Highlight
  • [ February 20, 2026 ] Brazil Elections 2026: Favela Communicators Fight Misinformation and Digital Vulnerability #CommunityMedia
  • [ February 15, 2026 ] Violent Rains Ravage Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas—Causing Floods and Landslides Ahead of Carnival—Show #VoicesFromSocialMedia #CommunityMedia
  • [ February 13, 2026 ] Queens from the Favelas: Meet Homegrown Rhythm Section Queens Upholding Black, Peripheral and Female Leadership in Rio’s Carnival *Highlight
HomeBOPE

BOPE

Residents hold banners calling for an end to violence.
#UPPWatch

Alemão Residents Show Their Strength During Public Meeting on Police Occupation

By Luisa Fenizola • Translation by Sarah Jacobs • May 2, 2017

Clique aqui para Português On April 24, a public meeting was held at the Rio Public Defenders Office with the title “Houses Invaded, Lives Violated and Other Police Abuses in Complexo do Alemão.” The meeting […]

#UPPWatch

Social Constructions of the Favela Part 2: Glorification of War and Violence

By Phie van Rompu • April 22, 2017

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

*Highlight

Social Constructions of the Favela Part 1: Stereotypes in Popular Films

By Phie van Rompu • April 14, 2017

Clique aqui para Português This is the first article in a four-part series on the social construction of favelas and the potential of favela tourism to break down negative stereotypes. One of the key perpetrators of creating […]

Police bullet-riddled homes in Alemão - Photo by Bruno Itan - reproduced on Facebook Ocupa Alemão
#CommunityMedia

No School for Thousands of Alemão Students Greeted With Enormous Police Operation on Their First Day of School

By Raull Santiago • Translation by Adam Lee • February 6, 2017

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Raull Santiago* in Portuguese published by Coletivo Papo Reto click here. Operation “Cancellation of Back to School” This was the name given by residents to yet another operation of […]

Armed police officer and resident of Parque Proletário, in the Complexo da Penha (Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil)
#LegacyWatch

Pacifying Police Units: Eight Years Later

By Bibiana Maia, Saulo Pereira Guimarães • Translation by Adam Lee • January 8, 2017

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Saulo Pereira Guitarães and Bibiana Maia in Portuguese published in Vozerio click here. The first Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) was launched at the end of 2008, in Santa Marta, […]

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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
    • Reference Articles
  • Communities
    • Central
    • South Zone
    • North Zone
    • West Zone
    • 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
  • Donate

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