BPK is Appointed as the External Auditor of ITLOS for Period 2025-2028
JAKARTA, BPK Public Relations – The Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK) has been appointed as the external auditor for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for period 2025-2028. This appointment was made during the 34th Meeting of States Parties (SPLOS/34) held in New York on Tuesday (11/6).
The ITLOS is an independent judicial body established in 1982 based on the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea. It has jurisdiction over any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and over all matters specifically provided for in any other agreement which confers jurisdiction on the Tribunal.
In addition to inter-state cases, The ITLOS can also provide advisory opinions on legal questions related to the Convention of the law of the sea, if requested.
ITLOS headquarter is located in Hamburg, Germany, and comprises of 169 member countries. The ITLOS Tribunal consists of 21 independent members elected from individuals with high reputation for fairness and integrity and of recognized competence in the field of the law of the sea.
The appointment of BPK as the external auditor of the ITLOS marks the first time a Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) from among the ITLOS member countries has been elected since the Organization inception in 1996. BPK was elected by acclamation, over BDO Deutsche Warentreuhan and the Auditor General of Pakistan. BPK’s appointment as an external auditor of the ITLOS establishes a new precedent for appointing the external auditors, potentially opening up prospects for other SAIs from member countries in the future.
BPK was elected based on its adequate competence and experiences as an external auditor for several international organizations. The appointment of BPK, the first SAI from a member country to serve as the external auditor of the ITLOS, is expected to add value and new perspectives to the ITLOS audit process. During the election process, BPK received supports from delegates from the Philippines, Singapore, India, and China. The EU delegation at the meeting also positively welcomed BPK's candidacy.
To date, BPK has served as an external auditor for several international institutions, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (2016-2021), the International Maritime Organization (2020-2027) and its two subordinate entities, the World Maritime University (WMU) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (2023-2025), the Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (2024), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (2024-2029).
Additionally, BPK has been trusted to chair the panel of external auditors for the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (2022-2023). This appointment further demonstrates international confidence in BPK's capacity and capability to conduct audits of international organizations.