PAPERS ARE INCLUDED FROM CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, ENGLAND, BELGIUM, DENMARK, INDIA, THE NETHERLANDS, AUSTRALIA, FRANCE, WEST GERMANY, AND SOUTH AFRICA. THEY REVIEW THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS OF FAMILY LAW, SPECIFIC SOCIAL CONDITIONS LEADING TO FAMILY VIOLENCE IN WIDELY DIFFERING PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND DIFFERING INTERVENTION STRATEGIES. (ONE HISTORICAL OVERVIEW ALSO TRACES THE FATHER'S POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH OVER HIS CHILDREN AND THE OCCURRENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND WIFE ABUSE IN BOTH TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SOCIETIES AND ROMAN LAW). A COMMON THREAD THROUGHOUT THE PAPERS IS THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND THE ALMOST UNIVERSAL RELUCTANCE OF LEGAL SYSTEMS TO INTERVENE UNLESS THE VIOLENCE IS SEVERE. WORLDWIDE, WIFE ABUSE IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE COMMON THAN HUSBAND ABUSE, AND IN NEARLY ALL SOCIETIES THE WOMAN RECEIVES LITTLE PRACTICAL LEGAL OR SOCIAL SUPPORT. A NUMBER OF INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR SPOUSE ABUSE ARE DESCRIBED. A SIMILAR OVERVIEW SHOWS CHILD ABUSE TO BE A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM WITH SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL VARIATIONS. LEGAL RESPONSES, INNOVATIVE COURT PROCEDURES, AND TOTAL FAMILY TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE DESCRIBED. CHAPTERS ALSO EXAMINE THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF INCEST, CHILDREN'S SUICIDE, VIOLENCE AMONG SIBLINGS, ADOLESCENTS WHO KILL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, AND PARENTAL RIGHTS VERSUS THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. AN APPENDIX PRESENTS A MODEL ACT TO FREE CHILDREN FOR PERMANENT PLACE, DEVELOPED IN THE UNITED STATES. OF THE 35 PAPERS, 3 ARE IN FRENCH AND THE REMAINDER ARE IN ENGLISH. NEARLY ALL CONTAIN EXTENSIVE NOTES AND REFERENCES WHICH TOGETHER CONSTITUTE AN EXTENSIVE MULTILANGUAGE AND WORLDWIDE BIBLIOGRAPHY. (GLR)