Preventing and combating corrupt practices and the transfer of proceeds of corruption, facilitating asset recovery and returning such assets to legitimate owners, in particular to countries of origin, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption A/RES/73/190 resources to execute requests, taking into account the particular importance of the recovery of these assets for sustainable development and stability; 13 17. Urges States parties that have yet to designate a central authority for international cooperation in accordance with the Convention to do so, and to appoint focal points for the purposes of international cooperation and mutual legal assistance in asset recovery, and, where appropriate, encourages States parties to make full use of the network of focal points of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Asset Recovery to facilitate cooperation and the implementation of the Convention, as well as the Global Focal Point Network on Asset Recovery, supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime through the Stole n Asset Recovery Initiative and by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); 18. Encourages States parties to the Convention to use and promote informal channels of communication and the possibility of spontaneous exchange of information, as permitted by domestic law, in particular prior to making formal requests for mutual legal assistance, by, inter alia, designating officials or institutions, as appropriate, with technical expertise in international cooperation in asset recovery to assi st their counterparts in effectively meeting requirements for mutual legal assistance; 19. Urges States parties to the Convention to remove barriers to asset recovery, including by simplifying their legal procedures and preventing abuse of those procedures, and also encourages States parties to limit, where appropriate, domestic legal immunities, in accordance with their legal systems and constitutional principles; 20. Encourages States parties to the Convention to give full effect to the resolutions, including those on asset recovery, of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention; 21. Urges States parties to the Convention to afford one another the widest possible cooperation and assistance in the identification and recovery of stolen assets and proceeds of corruption and to give particular and timely consideration to the execution of requests for international mutual legal assistance, in accordance with the Convention, and to afford one another the widest possible cooperation and assistance in the extradition of individuals accused of the predicate offences, in accordance with their obligations under the Convention, including article 44; 22. Also urges States parties to the Convention to ensure that procedures for international cooperation allow for the seizure and/or restraint of assets for a time period sufficient to preserve those assets in full, pending confiscation proceedings in another State, to ensure that there are adequate mechanisms in place to manage and preserve the value and condition of assets pending the conclusion of confiscation proceedings in another State, and to allow or expand cooperation in the enforcement of foreign seizure and freezing orders and confiscation judgments, including through measures to permit recognition of non-conviction-based seizure and freezing orders and confiscation judgments, where possible; 23. Further urges States parties to the Convention to take a proactive approach to international cooperation in asset recovery by making full use of the mechan isms provided for in chapter V of the Convention, including initiating requests for assistance, making spontaneous and prompt disclosures of information on proceeds of offences to other States parties and considering making requests for notifications, in accordance with article 52, paragraph 2 (b), of the Convention, and, where appropriate, implementing measures to permit the recognition of non -convictionbased forfeiture judgments; __________________ 13 18-22286 CAC/COSP/2013/18, sect. I.A, resolution 5/3, para. 6. 9/15