The 'ACP - Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Coloproktologie' (Austrian Working Group for Coloproctology) was established in 1993 as a subgroup of the Austrian Surgical Association and represents an international platform on both the scientific and clinical level. On the one hand, in response to the increasing specialization in different fields of surgery, and on the other, with the aim of establishing uniform quality criteria and providing training and continuing professional education. We arrange rotations and organize scientific sessions at the yearly Austrian Surgical Congress, organize papers of consent and take part in formulation of guidelines. Since 2001, every two years there is an international coloproctologic congress in Innsbruck (Tyrol), the Innsbruck Coloproctologic Wintermeeting (ICW), which takes place under the patronage of the ACP. There are several national advanced training courses. In 2022 the ACP was transformed into an association and now is an associate member of the Austrian Society of Surgery.