390. Individual identity and gender.

The safeguarding and preservation of identity, and the ability of the individual to understand and determine that identity, are fundamental aspects of private life, and Article 8¹ protects against interferences by the state with the ability of an individual to live or work under a particular name², to change their name³, and to choose a name for their child⁴. While it does not guarantee a general right of access to all personal information⁵, Article 8 protects the interest in receiving information necessary to know and understand one's childhood and early development⁶, and a person's right to discover his family