A colourful event
On Thursday 31 October 2024, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider attended the meeting of G20 health ministers in Rio de Janeiro, also making a working visit to the country. Ensuring security during a visit of this type is a demanding task for fedpol.
The General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Home Affairs notifies fedpol that it is making the trip to Brazil. Once the case has been assigned to the appropriate police division, Len’s* is quick to get things moving; he contacts Florian*, the police attaché in Brasilia. Together, they will organise the security measures required.
Plan, authorise, execute
Florian makes use of his contacts from Brasilia to Rio de Janeiro. He has a good command of Brazilian Portuguese and knows the right doors to knock on to start organising the administrative details, a demanding task, but a necessary step, as authorisation from the Brazilian federal police and local partners is crucial. Having a police attaché on the ground simplifies and speeds up arrangements considerably.
Brazil, a country with many facets
Florian provides information about the situation on the ground. The level of crime is the main concern as they finalise the various itineraries. The favelas are lawless zones, no-go areas for the police, except for raids, and then only at their own peril. Gun battles between rival gangs are commonplace. These areas are off-limits, and any exposure to this kind of danger is out of the question. The problem is that the motorway between the airport and the city centre cuts through the favelas. The Brazilian authorities are aware of this, and plan appropriate measures on the advice of the Swiss personal protection team, and make the necessary equipment available. What’s more, the city’s location is making Len rather nervous: situated between the mountains and the coast, it seems confined, with no escape.
While the discussions are in full swing, a demonstration takes place, apparently spontaneously, outside the G20 conference building. The demonstrators want their voices to be heard, and to ensure everyone’s safety, the proportionate reaction is to let it go ahead, and fortunately, it goes off peacefully. Len is relaxed, confident that the Swiss delegation is in no danger. Thanks to the synergy and ongoing communication between the teams involved, every challenge can be effectively addressed.
Experience brings security
Previous visits have led to improvements in practices and helped consolidate established communication channels. The then President of the National Council, Martin Candinas, visited Brazil in May 2023, as did Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin in July of the same year, while in February 2024, it was the turn of Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter. With his experience with the local culture, Florian acts as a mediator with the police and other authorities and maintains contact with all the players involved, handling every complex situation with tact.
Given the situation on the ground, preparation, anticipation and trust are key. A visit that goes smoothly and safely is not just a question of protection, it is also a means of encouraging cooperation and dialogue.
‘In my job, the smallest detail can change everything. In a city like Rio de Janeiro, it can make the difference between safety and risk.’
Len, Commissioner
* Name changed