European Countries Are Not Obligated To Grant Same-Sex Couples The Right To Marry

June 29, 2010

European countries are not obligated to grant same-sex couples the right to marry, said the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg last week.

European Court of Human Rights

Seven of the 47 member states have so far granted gay couples the right to marry, but the other member states are under no legal obligation to do so.

The Irish Times reports: "The court observed that, among Council of Europe member states, there is no consensus regarding same-sex marriage.

"The court has underlined that national authorities were best placed to assess and respond to the needs of society in this field, given that marriage had deep-rooted social and cultural connotations differing largely from one society to another."
 

The decision was made after an Austrian couple brought the case to the court after they were refused a marriage license in their home country.

However, the court did claim that gay couples – like their heterosexual counterparts - do have a right to a family.

European countries which currently permit same-sex marriage are Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Portugal and Iceland.

Canada and South Africa are the only nations outside of Europe permitting gay marriage.

Image source: Djtm