Popular World Cup Committee of São Paulo (São Paulo)
Forming for the struggle, guaranteeing rights
São Paulo
Objectives and target population:
Mobilizing residents in areas affected by urban interventions related to the 2014 World Cup to demand the guarantee of their human rights from public organs is the main aim of the selected project. The focus is on defending the right to housing and dignified labor, access to health services, education and urban mobility.
Directly benefiting from the project will be the communities Favela da Paz, Três Cocos, Favela Catitu, Miguel Inácio Curi I and II, Cidade AE Carvalho, etc, who are being affected by the transportation projects in and around the new “Itaqueirão” Stadium; the communities of Jardim Paraná, impacted by the construction of the northern stretch of the Rodoanel (peripheral highway); communities affected by projects from the Rio Verde Jacu Pêssego Urban Operation; the population threatened with removal from the abandoned buildings they have occupied in the center of São Paulo; and itinerant workers mobilized for the resistance to the repression of their right to work.
Main activities:
– “Ball debates” – Debates will be organized in the communities affected directly or indirectly by the 2014 World Cup. The group intends to use the vocabulary and culture of soccer in critical videos, theatrical presentations and workshops that bring the population closer to the topic;
– Going door-to-door to raise residents’ awareness and participation in activities and informing them about the resistance to forced removals;
– Creating and distributing cards, pamphlets, bulletins and videos; as well as feeding the National Committee blog with news related to the impact of the World Cup on São Paulo;
– Holding workshops on human rights for twenty leaders so they can spread information in their communities;
– Holding a state-wide seminar on the topic, with representatives of the popular movement, government, the Public Prosecutor and Public Defender’s offices.
Context:
Large sporting events, such as the 2014 World Cup, are international festivities that mobilize countries and investments directed toward the supposed betterment of the host cities. However rarely does this legacy translate into urban improvement for the residents of poorer areas. On the contrary, forced evictions impact families that are “in the way” of construction projects for the mega-events. In São Paulo, the committee accompanies the mobilizations of itinerant workers, for the right to work; and supports communities threatened with forced evictions.
About the organization:
The Popular World Cup Committee of São Paulo is a network of organizations and social movements united since 2011 around the struggle for housing and dignified working conditions. The committee is structured in groups, according to the process recommended by Ancop – the National Network of Popular World Cup Committees (Legal, Financial, Communications and Mobilization divisions) and was behind the diagnosis of several violations occurring in São Paulo, directly and indirectly related to the 2014 World Cup.
Partnerships:
The São Paulo Committee is part of Ancop – the National Network of Popular World Cup Committees and participates in the organizational network of the 4th Dignified Housing Day conference, in partnership with the State Public Defender’s Office and other organizations. The conference’s theme will be “The Dispute for the City: Urban conflicts and popular resistance.”
Funding Line
Urban Development (2012)
Year
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Total Granted
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Duration
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Main Themes
The right to just and sustainable cities