This book takes an international perspective on child welfare, examining how global and national frameworks can be adapted to address the rights and best interests of children. Synthesising the latest international research, experts redefine the concept of a 'child in need' in a world where global movement is common and children are frequently involved in the law. The book considers children as citizens, as refugees, victims of trafficking, soldiers, or members of indigenous groups and identifies the political and cultural changes that need to take place in order to deliver rights for these children. Focusing in particular on child protection systems across nations, it identifies areas of child welfare and family law which systematically fail to look after the best interests of children, often through prejudice, outdated practice, or even the failure of agencies to work together.

Rosemary Sheehan is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, Monash University, Australia, and holds the post of Dispute Resolution Convenor in the Children's Court of Victoria. Her published research has looked at child welfare and the law and mental health and offenders. Helen Rhoades is an Associate Professor in the Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, Australia, where she teaches and researches in the areas of family law and dispute resolution. Nicky Stanley is Professor of Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. She researches and writes in the areas of child protection, domestic violence, young people's mental health and interprofessional work.