The purpose of this article is to find out the significance of international perspectives for research on child abuse and neglect. Child abuse is not a new phenomenon. Increased international communication and exposure has brought awareness in many that child abuse is a phenomenon intrinsic to all human society since the beginning of time. Abuse of children and adolescents is a complex international problem that seems to defy simple analysis and easy answers. We need to raise the public's awareness of the devastating effects of child abuse. Survivors of child abuse and neglect may be at greater risk for problems later in life such as low academic achievement, drug use, teen pregnancy, and criminal behavior that affect not just the child and family, but society as a whole. This includes the worst forms imaginable of child labor, involvement in armed conflict, exposure to female genital mutilation, child marriage, being sold into slavery, or being solicited over the internet. Whereas individual studies often use different definitions of the term, the results cannot be compared with each other and there is no universal standard exists for optimal child care or for child abuse. Most international communities have tended to focus only upon societal, or extra familial, abuses to children. In many others, the focus has been on issues relating to child labor, beggary, prostitution and marriage. In some more developed countries, attention has turned toward more intra-familial abuses and issues. Moreover, many abused and neglected children never come to the attention of government authorities or individuals who can make efforts to protect a particular child. It is clear that a significant number of children will remain at high risk for experiencing violence and other negative outcomes. Given all of this information, it is hoped that national and international partnerships will continue to make efforts to improve service availability and quality to children across the world.