Silvia Ramos headed Rio de Janeiro’s Center for Studies on Public Security and Citizenship (Centro de Estudos de Segurança e Cidadania / CESeC). In this position, she actively oversaw the implementation of the UPP (Unidade Pacificadora da Policia) program. Silvia Ramos was a founder of the Brazilian Interdisciplinary Aids Association (ABIA) and was scientific coordinator of the Visiting Researcher Program of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in partnership with FAPERJ (Rio de Janeiro State Foundation to Support Research). She was a consultant to various nongovernmental organizations and advised the deputy secretary for public security in the State of Rio de Janeiro on programs to protect minorities and the environment. She is also on the board of directors for Altus global alliance, which focuses on public safety and justice. She earned a master's in psychology from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.