UNESCO hosted the first WSIS+10 Review Event “Towards Knowledge Societies, for peace and sustainable development”, which was co-organized with ITU, UNDP and UNCTAD in Paris from 25-27 February 2013. WSIS+10 offered some 1450 participants from 130 countries 83 high-quality sessions (including plenaries) on diverse Knowledge Societies topics; 4 Heads of Intergovernmental Organizations opened the Event, many Ministers and other high-level government officials, the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, the Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce, Nobel Prize Dr. Pachauri, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs and the CEO of ICANN discussed latest and future developments in the field of ICTs, including the Internet.

Some 25 pages of recommendations from sessions were compiled as foundations for the ongoing WSIS Review and latest research -specifically commissioned for the Event- informed discussions and was also peer-reviewed. The development during the Event and adoption by consensus of the Final Statement Information and Knowledge for All: An Expanded Vision and a Renewed Commitment as well as its later endorsement by UNESCO’s 37th session of the General Conference, the inclusiveness of the Event with a strong representation from all continents, plus some 800 remote participants from over 80 countries, were acknowledged as particular success and an exemplary UNESCO contribution towards the 2015 WSIS Review and beyond.