U.N. criticizes Italian hate-crime vote

ROME, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The Italian Senate's rejection of a bill meant to protect gays from hate crimes is a step backward for human rights, the U.N.'s top human rights official said.

''Gays and lesbians deserve full protection under the law,'' said Navi Pillay, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, adding that governments should take additional steps ''to protect (gays) from violence and discrimination.''

The bill would have increased penalties for acts of violence motivated by homophobia, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. The Senate rejected the measure, saying it would violate the Italian constitution by giving unequal protection to gays.

Aurelio Mancuso, head of the gay-rights group Arcigay, called the vote "a shameful display which humiliates the dignity of homosexuals."

The bill's author, gay-rights advocate Paola Concia, said she was "ashamed of the parliament" after the vote.

Mariastella Carfagna, the welfare minister, said she would present the cabinet with a new bill that calls for harsher penalties for all crimes motivated by discrimination. She said the bill would include crimes against gays.

In the most recent in a wave of anti-gay attacks this year, a male couple holding hands were attacked by a group of young men in Rome over the weekend.