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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
Homesuccessful protest

successful protest

Mãe Ekedi Sílvia de Mendonça, a journalist and a Black Movement activist, in front of the old house of cult of João da Gomeia, one of the most famous candomblé priests of his time. Photo by Bárbara Dias
#ParticipationWatch

Sacred Afro-Brazilian Religious Site Will Be Preserved, Following Protest by Religious Movement

By Carla Souza • Translation by Carolyn Oliveira • August 18, 2020

Clique aqui para Português On July 18, a protest against religious intolerance took place in Duque de Caxias, in Greater Rio’s Baixada Fluminense region, at the former site of the terreiro (outdoor place of worship […]

*Highlight

Letters from the Children of Maré Favela: “I don’t like helicopters because they shoot and people die.”

By Felipe Betim • Translation by Edmund Ruge • August 29, 2019

Clique Aqui para Português  For the original article in Portuguese by Felipe Betim published in El País click here. Children from the Complexo da Maré favelas describe the horrors of life in the crossfire, writing […]

#CommunityMedia

Five Ways Favela Activists Use Facebook as a Tool to Resist Eviction

By Lucas Smolcic Larson • December 19, 2017

Clique aqui para Português In Brazil, 52.5% of the population has a Facebook profile, making it the third highest user base in the world. And favelas are at the heart of the country’s social media craze. 59% […]

#LegacyWatch

‘No Boston Olympics’ Demonstrates Effective Olympics Resistance [BOOK REVIEW]

By Alex Besser • May 20, 2017

Clique aqui para Português No Boston Olympics: How and Why Smart Cities Are Passing on the Torch, written by Chris Dempsey and Andrew Zimbalist, author of Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics […]

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.

Contact & Support

contact@rioonwatch.org
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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

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  • Violations
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    • Government Neglect
  • Organizing
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  • Content Map
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