The Ara Trust was registered on February 20, 2013, with the primary objective of operating as a centre for the study of refugee law and forced migration. The organisation gets its name from the Latin word "Ara" which means "shelter". The organisation is registered under The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and under Sections 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Ara is a woman-led organisation and has an all-woman staff. Its primary objective is to adopt innovative methods to expand the protection space available for forced migrants and refugees, particularly the more vulnerable of them such as women, children and LGBT, in India.

MISSION
To promote a rights-based discourse on forced migration through innovative methods, and to operate as a centre for law and policy.

INITIATIVES

The Ara Trust currently runs three initiatives:

Ara Legal Initiative - This is Ara's pilot programme and focuses on direct legal assistance to UNHCR's persons of concern.
Ara S.H.E Initiative - Ara will launch this programme in 2016 with the objective of providing specialized assistance to women and children.
Ara-PRO Initiative  - This is Ara's academic wing which has a focus on policy, research and outreach.