TOKYO (AFP): A Japanese court ruled Wednesday (March 17) that the country's failure to recognise same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, in a highly anticipated verdict. More than a dozen same-sex couples filed lawsuits in 2019 seeking to force the government to recognise gay marriage. But the verdict seen by AFP said that the failure to recognise same-sex marriage is unconstitutional -- hailed as a step towards marriage equality by campaigners. Japan is the only nation from the Group of Seven countries that does not recognise same-sex unions, and its constitution stipulates that "marriage shall be only with the mutual consent of both sexes". The government says this means same-sex marriage is "not foreseen" in the constitution or civil law.

Source: The Star March 17, 2021 03:52 UTC