Italy violated human rights of gay couples by refusing marriage licences, court rules

It is the only major nation in Western Europe with no same-sex marriage or civil partnerships

A European court has ruled that Italy breached the rights of three gay couples by refusing to let them get married.

Judges said that the country - which is the last major nation in Western Europe without same-sex marriage or civil partnerships - had violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which maintains the right to respect for private and family life.

Italy's city mayors go to the barricades
Catholic bishops block new guidelines

Some areas allow local civil unions, but there is a national ban on same-sex marriage, a stance that has caused a bitter split between city mayors and the state.

BBC

Ireland's same-sex marriage vote denounced by Vatican
21 countries down, 175 to go

The court said the existing legal protection was "not sufficiently reliable".

The three couples involved in the case have been together for years, but had all requests for marriage rejected.

The Italian government was ordered to pay the six men €5,000 (£3,500) each as compensation, plus expenses.