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Latest News
  • [ November 11, 2026 ] Favela Rivers Also Have Rights, Say Residents, Activists and Students During Rio de Janeiro’s 3rd Sustainable Favela Festival *Highlight
  • [ October 29, 2026 ] Favela Leaders Confronting the Climate Crisis In Diverse, Creative Ways Is Top Takeaway From Latest ‘Sustainable Favela Festival’ *Highlight
  • [ 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
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*Highlight

Veiled Racism in the Criminalization of Carioca Funk, Part 1: ‘Let the Favela Win, Shine!’

By Ingra Maciel • Translation by Constance Malleret • February 26, 2021

Clique aqui para Português This is the first of two articles on the criminalization of funk music and oppression of black favela culture. Read part 2 here. The Judiciary and the Criminalization of Funkeiros “Let […]

Church of Our Lady of Penha_ the beginning of a Quilombo that, later, would become Vila Cruzeiro. Photo by VejaRio.
*Highlight

Vila Cruzeiro’s Legacy for Black Culture

By William Reis • Translation by Ikrom Alajoulin • November 19, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This article is published as part of Brazilian Black Awareness Month, celebrated every November around Black Consciousness Day on November 20. For the original article by William Reis, executive coordinator of […]

Mathare Social Justice Centre Working Group
*Highlight

Solidarity and Joint Struggle from Nairobi to Rio, Where the Police Kill [VIDEO]

By Chloe Villalobos, Tatiana Lima • Translation by Constance Malleret • October 5, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This is our latest article on Covid-19 and its impacts on the favelas. Around 2.5 million people live in favelas in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya in Africa, and 1.4 million in […]

Memory and Culture Working Group's live Teach-In.
#CoronavirusWatch

Favelas Hold Teach-In ‘Are Brazilians Without Memory? The Memory of the Pandemic in the Favela’ [VIDEO]

By Mariana Gomes • Translation by Sharonya Vadakattu • August 28, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This is our latest article on Covid-19 and its impacts on the favelas and in the series of Teach-Ins on Covid-19 in favelas. On July 27, the Memory and Culture Working Group of the […]

*Highlight

Marielle Franco Would Be Turning 41: Her Struggle Continues and Her Memory Celebrated

By Jaqueline Suarez • Translation by Thomas Maggiola • July 28, 2020

Clique aqui para Português A show with singer Elza Soares and rapper Flávio Renegado marked the birthday celebrations for Marielle Franco, who would have turned 41 on Monday, July 27. The livestreamed concert “Elza for […]

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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
    • 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
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