Italy violated gay couples' human rights by refusing marriage licences: Euro court

London: A European court has accused Italy of breaching the rights of three gay couples by refusing to allow them to get married.

Judge said that the country, which is the last major nation in Western Europe to not allow same-sex marriage or civil partnerships, infringed Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which upheld the right to respect for private and family life, reported The Independent.

The court directed the Italian government to pay 5,000 euros to each of the six men as compensation, as well as expenses.

While some areas in Italy allow civil unions but there is a national ban on same-sex marriages, an issue that has been the cause of a bitter divide between city mayors and the state.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has although promised to pass a law on civil unions but it is not in force yet.