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Latest News
  • [ January 29, 2026 ] ‘It’s the Place of Resistance of Our Existence’: Duque de Caxias’ Culture Manor is a Hub for Art, Education and Leisure by Community Contributors
  • [ January 13, 2026 ] 10 Years Since the Rio Olympics: Vila Autódromo Continues to Resist Gentrification Pressures Amidst New ‘Olympic Barra’ Neighborhood #EvictionsWatch
  • [ January 8, 2026 ] COP30 Civil Society Rundown: Thousands of Communities and Social Movements, Representing Favelas, Indigenous, Quilombola and Other Marginalized Groups Fill Belém During COP30 [IMAGES] *Highlight
  • [ December 31, 2025 ] ‘What We Want Aren’t Bodies on the Ground… It’s Recognition of [Our] People Creating Solutions’: Penha Favelas Hold Composters and Integrated Health Events Highlighting Local Climate Memories *Highlight
  • [ December 26, 2025 ] 2025 Retrospective of Top International Reporting on Rio’s Favelas #MediaWatch
Homefunicular tram

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#HousingWatch

Brazil’s Political Crisis Threatens Essential Upgrading Works in Rocinha

By Meg Healy • June 8, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Following last month’s reconfiguration of the Federal Planning Ministry following President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment, questions regarding the status of uncompleted infrastructure projects funded under her administration remain unanswered. Within a day of […]

#ParticipationWatch

The View from the Favelas on Recent Protests

By Fernando Caulyt, Renata Malkes • Translation by Sarah Jacobs • March 19, 2016

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Renata Malkes and Fernando Caulyt in Portuguese published in DW Brasil click here. Residents of a favela in Copacabana in Rio’s South Zone don’t hide the extent of […]

#EvictionsWatch

Touring Favela Santa Marta Through the Eyes of Activist Guide Vitor Lira

By Julia Jones • June 16, 2015

Clique aqui para Português On Monday June 1, police, municipal guards and city officials crowded into the Santa Marta favela to destroy a number of homes, leaving residents confused, panicked, and without shelter due to the […]

#GentrificationWatch

Tram, Tourism, History & Resistance in Santa Marta: “Each Brick Has Its Story”

By Miriane Peregrino • Translation by Cara D’Rosario • March 6, 2015

For the original in Portuguese by Miriane Peregrino, published in Agência de Notícias das Favelas, click here. The Santa Marta tram was launched on May 29, 2008, the same year Rio de Janeiro’s first Police Pacification Unit (UPP) was established […]

Civil Society

Rocinha Says No to Cable Car

By Canal iBase • Translation by Charlotte Livingstone • July 25, 2013

For the original in Portuguese on Canal iBase click here. A heated debate took place at the Engineering Club last Friday July 19 over the Rio state government’s attempt to install a cable car in […]

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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10 Years! Check Out Our Story:

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
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  • Policies
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    • 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
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      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
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    • Research & Analysis
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    • Listicles
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    • Translated Articles
  • About
    • Timeline
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