Speaking at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre this week, President Dilma Rousseff expressed sympathy with the 'indignation' behind the recent international protests against social and economic inequality. 'The dissonance between the voice of the markets and the voice of the streets in the developed countries seems to be increasing,' she said.

In comparison, President Rousseff said many countries in Latin America, including Brazil, have responded to the world financial crisis of 2008 with 'progressive and democratic' measures that have succeeded in reducing poverty and social inequality.

She expressed the hope that the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), taking place in Rio de Janeiro in June, will help launch a development model that will focus on combating poverty and inequality while protecting the environment.

Read President Rousseff's speech at the World Social Forum (in Portuguese)

Source: Office of the President