Rafael Fabrés

In preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro launched the UPP (Police Pacification Unit) security program. The UPPs have permanent bases in the city’s favelas, the sprawling shantytowns that are home to more than a million Rio residents. Their job is to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime. While many believe that the UPPs have helped reduce violence by offering prospects for providing the favelas with public services such as a legal electricity supply, garbage collection, education, public works and a social assistance program, others see the pacification program as a temporary cover-up of Rio’s security problems and social inequality, and believe that by the time the 2016 Olympics are over, everything will end up as it was before.