The first shelter for battered women was established in Britain almost 25 years ago. Since then, the plight of battered women has grown rapidly. This volume examines the progress made in the field to date.

The contributions reveal the innovative character of the battered women's movement that is evident throughout the world and is a tribute to the results of often difficult and life-threatening work. They address the diversity of efforts, challenge readers to reflect, assimilate and take action, and envision a future in terms of: the way in which societies define the problem, global organizing, informal social networks, new interventions to assist victims/survivors, perpetrators and their children, and practice research that informs intervention.