KAFUBU, Mwiche2026-07-032026https://research.unilus.ac.zm/handle/123456789/709Bachelor of Laws - Research ReportThe International Court of Justice, as the principle judicial organ on the United Nations, has the power to issue judgments, that being the case, enforcement of the said judgments remains a challenge in International Law, this is because most of its judgments are dependent on Voluntary compliance and a recourse to the United Nations Security Council. This dependence on these two factors has produced a large enforcement gap, which undermines the Court’s authority as well as its legitimacy. This study critically analyzed the current enforcement framework of the of the International Court of Justice, highlighting its limitation and weaknesses and then identifying what lessons can be drawn from the European Court of Justice, a court whose enforcement framework has shown a relatively higher level of state compliance and effectiveness. This research was rooted in a qualitative and doctrinal approach, learning from primary legal instruments, including statutes, ICJ and ECJ cases and books, also drawing from other secondary sources such as journals and internet sources. It analyzed two landmark ICJ cases, ‘Ukraine v Russia’ and DRC v Rwanda to show how the enforcement of ICJ judgments is limited and subject to political biasness in disputes that are politically sensitive. On the other hand, the paper reviewed two cases from the ECJ, these cases being, ‘ NH v Lenford’ and the case of the ‘commission v Greece. These cases highlighted the two enforcement mechanisms that the ECJ uses, that make their enforcement more effective. These two mechanisms involve a decentralized system, which allows for direct effect and individual standing in the EU, and a centralized system, which involves infringement procedures and financial sanctions. The study undertook to make some recommendations on how the ICJ can redesign its framework to incorporate some factors that can help enhance enforcement of its rulings.enThesis