The rights and obligations of parenthood are central to most people's lives. Yet their form and substance are caught up in the great demographic, social and economic changes of the late twentieth century. In this book, specialists from 22 countries examine fundamental issues confronting parenthood: these include social and biological conceptions of parenthood; the legal and moral obligations of parenthood; the legal and scientific establishment of parentage; rights to parenthood, including inter-country adoption; the effects on parent--child relationships of family change; the role of the state in family life; the position of minorities; and children's rights. They are viewed within a global context, and integrated in a commentary which looks forward to the future evolution of the law.