The campaign against controversial plans to appoint state guardians for every child in Scotland is being stepped up with a public meeting at the McManus in Dundee.
It is one of a series of gatherings being held across the country as the No To Named Person (NO2NP) campaign increases pressure in advance of an impending court case against the Scottish Government proposals.
Under the legislation, more than one million children in Scotland aged under 18 will be assigned a “named person”, someone other than their parents a health visitor or head teacher who will have the power to “advise” and “inform” the child or discuss or raise matters about the child with the relevant authorities.
However, campaigners claim the government is acting illegally and exceeding its powers by setting up the scheme to appoint state monitors or guardians, in direct contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Last month, legal papers challenging the named person provisions contained in the Children and Young People Act were lodged at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Academics, medical experts and social services professionals are among those who have expressed support for the campaign group and will be among the speakers at the public meetings.
Sociologist Dr Stuart Waiton, from Abertay University, is a leading academic voice against the plans and will also address the meeting.
Dr Waiton said: “The worrying aspect of the named person legislation is that those in authority who are promoting this appear to have little or no comprehension about the importance of autonomy and privacy for family life.
“Even the most well meaning form of intervention can undermine parental authority and degrade the important private relationships in families.
“Today, it appears that privacy is looked upon in a one-sided and profoundly negative way and support/intervention is seen as necessarily positive.”
A spokesman for NO2NP added: “The Scottish Government’s planned Named Person scheme will undermine parental authority over their own children and allow state officials unprecedented powers to interfere with family life.
“These meetings will give ordinary mums and dads the opportunity to come along and hear the very real risks this ‘Big Brother’ legislation poses.”
Speakers at the meeting, at 7.30pm next Wednesday, will also include Tory MSP Liz Smith and Lesley Scott from Perth, who represents the TYMES Trust charity.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman previously said: “Named persons usually a health visitor or a promoted teacher already known to the family were first introduced in parts of Scotland following parents’ requests for a single point of contact for advice or help when needed, to avoid having to re-tell their story to different services.
“Nothing in the legislation changes parental rights and responsibilities because we know that mothers and fathers are, with a very few exceptions, the best people to raise their children.
“The named person policy is already operating successfully in a number of areas across Scotland where many heads, deputes and guidance teachers already fulfil this role.
“The legislation will provide a consistent approach nationally to promoting, supporting and safeguarding the wellbeing of all of Scotland’s children.
“We will continue to work with health boards, education authorities and others to promote best practice ahead of the national roll-out.”