Refusal to grant gender-neutral passports a ‘breach of human rights’

A campaigner is arguing in the High Court that the Government’s refusal to issue gender-neutral passports is a “breach of human rights”.

Christie Elan-Cane, who has campaigned for gender-neutral passports for more than 25 years, says the UK’s passport application process, which requires people to state whether they are male or female, is “inherently discriminatory” and “unlawful”.

The outcome of the two-day judicial review, which concludes today, could affect 650,000 people. "Up to 1% of the UK population did not identify as either male or female in a 2012 survey carried out by the Equality and Human Rights Commission", The Guardian reports.

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Elan-Cane, who is supported by Human Rights Watch, says the policy breaches the right to respect for private life and the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of gender or sex.

Her barrister told the court: “For the claimant, obtaining and using a passport currently involves making a false declaration as to the nature of the claimant’s gender identity, which causes the claimant considerable distress.

The court “will also hear submissions on behalf of the Home Secretary that the case should be dismissed”, reports Metro.

The Home Office says changing the gender category system could “affect national security” and would “create a huge administrative burden”.