A transgender woman from the U.K. who was stopped by customs at Pearson airport and detained in a men’s jail has filed separate human rights complaints against corrections and border officials.

Avery Edison, who was held at Milton’s Maplehurst Correctional Complex for 20 hours in February after her arrest, claimed she was discriminated and mistreated by the officials because of her gender.

“At Maplehurst, in spite of Ms. Edison’s legal and self-identification as a woman, Ms. Edison was continually referred to as ‘he’ or ‘him’ or ‘sir,’ ” said the complaint filed Wednesday to both the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Canadian human rights commission.

Edison’s case underscores the growing concern over the “misgendering and misplacement” of trans people in the Ontario jail system, said Edison’s lawyer, Jonathan Schachter.

Although the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has a policy to assign pre-operative trans people to a detention facility based on their gender at birth, he said it’s not adequate.

“Everyone understands that there is something wrong when a woman is placed in a men’s prison. Unfortunately, experiences like hers are all too common,” said Schachter.

“Our country defines itself by its diversity. Our public institutions cannot ignore the challenges that this (gender) diversity may present.”

Edison is asking the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to order provincial corrections officials to develop and update their policy on the placement of transgender and transsexual residents.

She also hopes the federal rights commission will compel Canada Border Services Agency staff for sensitivity training when serving trans people.

Edison, 25, was flagged by customs officials because she had overstayed her visitor’s visa by seven months in 2013 on her previous trip.

While border officials decide if an immigration detention is warranted, the federal agency said it is up to provincial correctional services where to detain an inmate.

“We are committed to ensuring the fair treatment of all travellers and that the criteria and indicators used by our officers do not discriminate on grounds protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act,” Canada Border Services Agency spokeswoman Anna Pape said in February after Edison’s arrest.

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