THE SOCIAL RE-USE OF SEIZED AND CONFISCATED ASSETS: GOOD POLICIES AND PRACTICES

The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) highlighted Bien Restituido as an international good practice in its report on the social re-use of seized and confiscated assets.

This recognition values the work carried out from Argentina, demonstrating that it is possible to transform the assets of crime into tools for justice, inclusion, and collective reparation.

Below is the section of the report dedicated to Argentina.

Argentina is progressively developing a model for the recovery and social re-use of assets confiscated from organized crime, as well as of underutilized state-owned properties. Although the country does not yet have a specific national law regulating social re-use, momentum has been building through civil society-led initiatives, institutional reforms, and pilot projects. These efforts form part of a broader strategy to enhance transparency, promote reintegration, and redirect illicit or underused resources toward the public good.

Legal and Institutional Framework

Argentina does not yet have a dedicated national law specifically authorizing the social re-use of confiscated assets. However, progress is being achieved through both state institutions and civil society. The Agencia de Administración de Bienes del Estado (AABE), established in 2012, is responsible for managing state-owned assets, such as land and buildings no longer used by public institutions. While AABE was not originally designed to manage assets confiscated through criminal proceedings, it has assumed responsibilities for certain assets subject to judicial measures when transferred to the State. In these cases, the AABE may assign properties for public or social use, under its “asignación de uso” powers.

Launched in 2021, the Bien Restituido initiative was established to promote the social re-use of assets confiscated from organized crime, filling a gap left by the absence of a dedicated public policy. Led by Libera (Italy) and local partners - such as Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ), Fundación Multipolar, and Circolo Giuridico di Argentina, under the umbrella of América Latina Alternativa Social (ALAS) - and funded by the European Union Delegation in Argentina, the initiative has sought to push for legal reform, raise awareness, and build connections between NGOs and justice system actors.

In December 2022, a bill to allow the social re-use of confiscated assets was introduced in Congress, with multi-party sponsorship. While it was considered a significant step forward, the proposal, as of the drafting of this report, remained stalled due to wider political and legislative challenges. Argentina is also actively engaged in international cooperation efforts. It participates in the Cooperation Programme Between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union on Drug Policies (COPOLAD III) regional exchanges on social re-use of confiscated assets and is involved in the Latin América Latina Alternativa Social (ALAS), a civil society network supported by Libera. This engagement promotes regional exchange of good practices and alignment with global standards.

Case Examples

Bien Restituido has shown that social re-use of confiscated assets can be achieved through small-scale, community-driven projects.

Terzo Tiempo Bakery – Rosario: A delivery van confiscated from organized crime was reassigned to the Terzo Tiempo Bakery, a cooperative supporting the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. Funding also enabled the purchase of an industrial oven, which helped expand operations.

Casita Azul – Mar del Plata: A property previously used for human trafficking was transferred to local associations engaged in the Anti-Human Trafficking Roundtable Network. The property was converted into a memorial space and a support centre for women victims of gender-based violence and trafficking.

San Cayetano Textile Cooperative – Buenos Aires: This cooperative, working with drug rehabilitation patients and homeless individuals, uses confiscated fabric to produce handmade accessories. Demand is high enough that the Cooperative is now seeking access to a permanent space with adequate infrastructure to expand its work.

Playroom for Children – Villa 21-24, Buenos Aires: An apartment confiscated from a drug trafficker was given to the parish of Don Facundo, a priest affiliated with the movement of curas villeros (street priests). It has been transformed into a playroom for local children, providing a safe space in a community heavily affected by violence and drug abuse.

In addition to these efforts, the AABE has reassigned underutilized state properties for social purposes.

In Villa 31 (Barrio 31), Buenos Aires: AABE authorized the social and educational uses of underused state property as part of the re-urbanization plan, including a 490.68 m² property assigned to Parroquia Cristo Obrero to expand a day centre for children and youth, and an 8,042m² property granted to Fundación Hogares Argentinos to improve the Instituto de Enseñanza Filii Dei, which serves more than 1,800 students.

Some of the properties reassigned by AABE may not be clearly traceable to criminal proceedings; nonetheless these examples reflect the potential of asset re-use for advancing social inclusion and public value. Where assets have been seized or confiscated in a criminal or related proceeding, they also provide excellent opportunities to demonstrate to the public that the justice system is working in a holistic manner.

Observations.

Argentina’s experience reflects the challenges of promoting social re-use of criminal assets in the absence of binding legislation. Nonetheless, the Bien Restituido initiative demonstrates how civil society can play a leading role in developing operational pilots, building capacity, and advocating for change.

Access the full report.

Social-Reuse-of-Seized-and-Confiscated-Assets-Good-Policies-and-Practices-Oct--2025.pdf

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