Founded on April 10, 1992 , ARAS is one of the first anti-AIDS associations in Romania and one of the first Romanian non-governmental associations that appeared after 1989.
ARAS is a member of COALITION PLUS and a member of the Romanian Committee for Coordination of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Control Programs, of the NGO Coalition for European Structural Funds and of the Romanian Harm Reduction Network (RHRN) ), having an active role in advocacy, legislative changes and representation of vulnerable people. ARAS is part of several international bodies in the field: Civil Society on HIV/AIDS Forum, Civil Society Forum on Drugs, Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN).