The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Italy is violating the human rights of three gay couples by failing to offer enough legal protection for them.

The Court determined that Italy breached the rights of three gay couples by refusing to let them get married. The 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 each as compensation, plus expenses, reports The Independent.

The ECHR ruled on Tuesday that Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s government, which has stalled on passing a civil union law, failed to “provide for the core needs relevant to a couple in a stable committed relationship.”

The court said Italy was in breach of Article 8 – the right to respect for private and family life – of the European Convention on Human Rights, reports BBC.com.

Some areas allow civil unions but Italy remains bitterly divided on the issue of same-sex marriage equality.