Ara is a human rights lawyer who is currently leading global advocacy for Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme, working towards improving the governance of the defence sector, including the nexus of corruption, conflict and insecurity.
Previously, Ara worked as Deputy Director for Global Issues at Amnesty International, where she headed up the organisation’s global research, campaigning and advocacy on issues including the arms trade, torture trade, policing weapons, and the use of inhumane weapons around the world and other disarmament related issues. As policy and advocacy lead she developed strategies on the human rights protection through the establishment of trade controls and corporate responsibility. Highlights of her years in Amnesty International are coordinating the Global Campaign towards an Arms Trade Treaty, and spearheading Amnesty International’s efforts calling for stringent regulations on the ‘tools of torture’.