{{Infobox organization | name = International Coptic Union (ICU) | type = International Organization | founded = 2010 | founder = Mr Kamal Abd El-Nour | location = Vienna, Austria | origins = | membership = 27 Branches | region_served = Worldwide | website = }} '''The International Coptic Union''' (Acronym: ICU, Arabic:التجمع القبطى الدولي, German: Internationale Koptische Union, French: Union Internationale Copte) is an international organisation that aims to unify the Egyptian Coptic community around the world in order to resolve any conflict or hardship that may be faced by any Christian community, generally, or the Coptic community, specifically.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.internationalcopticunion.com/about-us.html |title=Page 1 |access-date=2015-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701024815/http://www.internationalcopticunion.com/about-us.html |archive-date=2015-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Union was officially registered in 2014 at the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organisation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://esango.un.org/civilsociety/showProfileDetail.do?method=showProfileDetails&tab=1&profileCode=644676|title=United Nations Civil Society Participation (iCSO) – Login|website=esango.un.org|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref>
== Establishment ==
The union was established in 2010 by Mr Kamal Abd El-Nour, the current chairman of the Union. In 2014 the Union was officially registered in the United Nations as an NGO.
== Objectives ==
- Establishing the foundations to unify of all Coptic Christian entities/individuals politically and socially;<ref name="auto">The International Coptic Union constitution</ref>
- Cooperating with the other Coptic/Christian organisations to resolve any issues that may concern the Coptic/Christian general affairs around the world;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail/?id=188336|title=Resources|website=www.isn.ethz.ch|language=en|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref>
- Supporting the Coptic/Christian community politically and socially in each country around the world to ensure the equality rights, as citizens in their home communities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.internationalcopticunion.com/australia-home.html |title=Australia 1 |access-date=2015-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701022745/http://www.internationalcopticunion.com/australia-home.html |archive-date=2015-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br /> - Communicating with all other political parties, entities or governments, internationally, in order to achieve the objectives of the union;<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.light-dark.net/topic.php?id=258560|title=Deputy Commissioner Kaldas Receives International Support|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref>
- Officially raising any issues and submitting memorandums in the United Nations regarding any general conflicts and concerns which may be suffered by any Christian community around the world.<br /> - Upholding the religious values and the Egyptian Coptic identity;<ref name="auto"/>
- Promote gender equality and empower women;<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://esango.un.org/civilsociety/showProfileDetail.do?method=showProfileDetails&tab=3&profileCode=644676|title=United Nations Civil Society Participation (iCSO) – Login|website=esango.un.org|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref>
- Develop global partnership for development;<ref name="auto1"/>
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.<ref name="auto1"/>
== Headquarters and branches ==
The official headquarters office is in Vienna, Austria. The Union also has 27 branches around the world in the capital and major cities of many countries such as: Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.internationalcopticunion.com/services.html |title=Services |access-date=2015-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701013845/http://www.internationalcopticunion.com/services.html |archive-date=2015-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and The United States of America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://esango.un.org/civilsociety/showProfileDetail.do?method=showProfileDetails&tab=3&profileCode=644676|title=United Nations Civil Society Participation – Activities|website=esango.un.org}}</ref><br /> As part of its activities, the Australian branch of the Union has created an [https://web.archive.org/web/20130420154153/http://www.abr.business.gov.au/EntityTypeDescription.aspx?Id=00023 Australian Public Company], [http://www.abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?SearchText=28603476259 Coptic International Union Ltd] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052958/http://www.abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?SearchText=28603476259 |date=2016-03-04 }}, to fulfill the Union's objectives on national basis according to its constitution. The Coptic International Union Ltd was registered as a charitable entity to operate in all Australian states and territories.<ref>http://www.acnc.gov.au/RN52B75Q?ID=1731190F-0603-4E0A-B5F2-353D703EA820&noleft=1{{Dead link | date=January 2026 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
Category:International Christian organizations Category:Coptic organizations Category:International organisations based in Austria