"Pacification" of Favelas in Rio de Janeiro: The Case of UPPs

This article discusses the pacification policy implemented in Rio de Janeiro, the establishment of Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) in favelas. The stigma associated with favelas and their residents as dangerous and criminal is reinforced, further le-gitimizing police action against them. Even if violence is reduced, the underlying stereotypes and prejudices that have historically guided the State's relationship with favelas will remain unchanged.