How tyo manage with rights, security and bureaucracy: the experience of attending UNCED

1. MY “UNBELIEVABLE” PARTICIPATION
AT UNCED, RIO DE JANEIRO, 1992
sergio benassai
1. Antecedent
After months of preparatory work (the first official meeting at UN level took place in December
1989), it was eventually decided that, from 3 to 14 June 1992, the UNCED (United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development) would be held in Rio de Janeiro.
The goal of the Conference was to discuss and suggest solution to problems as poverty, the gap
between industrialized and developing countries and, above all, the environment degradation.
One of the main documents to be discussed and approved was the so called “Agenda 21” (number
21 was a reference to XXI century, when a sustainable development should be in place), a
document illustrating concrete actions, at global and national level, to be put in force with the
maximum involvement of all possible stakeholders.
Among these actions it was envisaged a commitment to establish a globally harmonized system of
classification and labelling of dangerous chemical products.
The UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, the responsible body for
regulation to be applied at global level for all the modes of transport, which had long before defined
the criteria for classification and labelling of dangerous goods, felt suitable that one of the experts
of the Committee should participate at the Conference to follow the developments, at least for the
relevant ones for the Committee.
The Committee begged me to represent (at my own burden) the Committee at the Conference.

2. Following the approval of my organization I agreed on the job.
The organization of my participation was not very simple: several exchanges of letters were
necessary between UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe: the body which
the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods was part of), the Italian
Delegation at UN, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and my Organization, mainly to define the
mandate of my participation and the financial aspects.
The problem however was solved, but quite at the last moment. Indeed, only on May 22, few days
before my departure for Rio de Janeiro, I received a copy of the official letter of the Executive
Secretary of UNECE requesting the Secretary General of the Conference for my registration as
member of the UNECE delegation.
Everything was looking ok. I take the airplane and the 30 May 1992 I am in Rio de Janiero.
2. First day
31 May: out of the hotel I take a taxi for the envisaged office for registration.
But, after few meters, the driver inform me that the office is out of the area for which he is allowed
and leave me on the street. I take another taxi and I arrive at destination.
Where, after a long queue, I find that, irrespective of the received instructions, the place is not the
right one, because for delegates of my characteristics, registration has to be performed at the
Conference site, Rio Centro, far some tenths of km.
I get our and, after some uncertainty, I recognized my driver (I asked him to wait for me) sitting in a
sort of bar where he is drinking a sugarcan juice.
I agree to have a sugarcan juice (good !), otherwise the driver is not moving, and I convince him to
bring me at Rio Centro..
Rio Centro is a congress center completely isolated and controlled by army and police.

3. After a long discussion with policemen, who forbid the access to unregistered people, explaining
repeatedly that I have to go inside in order to register, I’m able to enter.
At registration office I’m told that they aren’t competent for my registration and I’m invited to go to
the UN security office.
I try to explain everything exhibiting the UNECE letter. They make a copy of the letter, and assure
me that it will be sent to the general secretariat of the Conference, which will provide to my
registration, and invite me to come back next day to acquire the “pass”.
Back to Rio de Janeiro, I come to an agreement with the driver in order to be brought the next day
to Rio Centro.
3. Second day
In the morning (1st June) the driver bring me to Rio Centro.
But the situation has changed.
The entrance is strictly controlled by the army and the police, not allowing the entrance for not
registered people.
I insist: I only want to enter to be registered. Nothing to do.
Finally, roaming from one access to other one, I find a Brazilian steward who, with some difficulty
(the conversation is a mixture of English, Brazilian and Italian), at the end brings me to an access
which I can use without problem.
Once inside I’m not allowed to enter in the office of the general secretariat, so I go once again to the
registration office.
The officers recognize me, but make clear that, according to the UNECE letter, they are unable to
decide which type of pass should be released: so I’m invited to contact the general secretariat.
After having explained that I’m not allowed to enter, an officer accompanies me.
The first person I go in contact with says is unable to solve the problem. I insist that I have the right
to be registered and eventually I can speak with an authoritative and kind lady, the boss of the
general secretariat staff.
I’m informed that, as far as they are concerned, no official letter came from Geneve, so they are
unable to solve my problem.
I ask if it would be possible to call Geneve by phone, but, due to the time zone, that is not
practicable.
At the end she promises me that my problem will be put at the attention of the General Secretary of
the Conference, and invites me to come back in the afternoon.
I look for a place where to reflect quietly and to have a sandwich (it’s lunch time)

4. In the meantime I realize that, inside Rio Centro, a new “security bend” has been installed, which
I’m outside (having chosen, without caution, the place where to rest): I’m so prevented to be back
in the office of the general secretariat.
I sit down, pondering some sensational initiative, such as “I go to the airport and fly back to Italy”,
but eventually I decide not to surrender.
Once again I meet with an unhoped-for assistance in a very kind hostess who, through strange
paths, guides me into the “security bend”.
I’m again in the secretariat, but nothing to do. The same authoritative and kind lady inform me that
she had a talk with the General Secretary, but other major problems hang over.
I sit somewhere, thinking what I should do.
And … suddenly, I see in a corridor the General Secretary (I’m able to recognize him, because I
read the Official Bulletin of the Conference).
I move to him and, penetrating through his assistants, I say:
“Sorry to disturb you, but I have a problem. My name is Benassai, and I’m here to represent …”
And he replies:
“Ah … Benassai .. yes .. I know your problem… do you have a paper ?”
I take out from my briefcase a white paper, he takes it and writes:
“Registration, please accredit Mr. Benassai as part of the Economic Commission for Europe
delegation. Thank you. Miles Stoby, Secretary of the Conference”.
A smile, a handshake and he goes away.
I go back to the secretariat and I exhibit triumphantly the paper.
The same authoritative and kind lady tells me:
“Well, now you can go to the registration office.”
But, being aware that the registration office is out of the “security belt” I ask, and obtain, to be
joined by an officer.

5. At the end I have my registration: and it is a very high-level “pass”, which allow me to enter
everywhere and to take part to all the meetings.
4. The following days
At the meetings I realize that my participation is not so relevant: the object of the interest of the UN
Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (the commitment to establish a
globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of dangerous chemical products) is not
discussed at length, so that the following text is approved without problems:
A globally harmonized hazard classification and compatible labelling system,
including material safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols, should be
available, if feasible, by the year 2000
However I feel that my duty is to follow the work of the Conference up to the end.
And it is an interesting experience, which will be useful when (at the time I was not aware of that !),
in 1966, I will be elected Chairman of the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous
Goods.
But the more gratifying happening is to realize that, being the only participant from UNECE at the
Conference, I’m recognized as the official representative of UNECE at “The Earth Summit”, i.e. to
the meeting of the highest world leaders (from Bush senior to Fidel Castro).
5. A message
One thing I want to remember.
The way from Rio de Janeiro to Rio Centro run along some favelas.
And the following bright message towered over a favela:
“Save humans first !”

6. 6. Conclusion
I reported to the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods the results of my
participation at UNCED, illustrating the conclusions with regard to classification and labelling of
chemicals and to other related topics (such as wastes and radioactive materials).
I made reference also to the difficulties I had to cope with.
On this point I cannot forget the comment by the Director of the Transport Division of UNECE:
“We were aware that, in a country as Brazil, some difficulties could arise. For such a reason we
were happy that you accepted to be our representative: we were sure that an Italian would be able to
manage also in difficult situation.”
benassaisergio@libero.it