Brazil: Rio de Janeiro hiking trail closed due to robberies

Event

At least 58 robberies were reported from June 28 to July 7 along the Rio de Janeiro hiking trail going from Parque Lage to Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer, resulting in authorities closing the trail until further notice. One government official has recommended that the trail remain closed until military police can be deployed to secure the area. However, the same official stated that using security forces was not realistic due to the fact that they are already stretched thin across the city and under-resourced.

Context

According to local sources, over 150 people have been robbed along the trail between January and June 2017.

The recent deterioration of security conditions in Rio de Janeiro sheds light on the failure of the state's security polices, notably Rio's ''pacification'' strategy, which involves the deployment of Police Pacification Units (Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora; UPP), to establish a presence in particularly crime-ridden areas of the city, notably favelas.

Social tensions are also on the rise across the country due to the poor economic situation following the decline in commodity prices, a mounting political crisis since the impeachment of Dilma Roussef, state and business corruption scandals, and the implementation of austerity measures (impacting the police and other state bureaucracies).

Advice

Generally speaking, individuals present in Rio de Janeiro are advised to conceal signs of wealth to avoid attracting the attention of would-be thieves and avoid entering favelas (slums; often located in very close proximity to more affluent neighborhoods). Keep in mind that criminals are often armed; never offer resistance if assaulted.​