June 2025 – The International Step by Step Association has produced the State of Southern European Fathers 2024 report as part of the Engaging Men in Nurturing Care (EMiNC) initiative. The report reveals a significant perception gap between fathers and mothers in caregiving. While many men participate in daily care, only 51% of fathers believe caregiving is equally shared, compared to 74% of mothers. This highlights the importance of fathers in children’s development, but barriers like rigid workplace cultures, limited paid leave, and quality childcare hinder equal participation. The report calls for policy reforms, investments in early childhood services, public campaigns, and local peer support networks to promote men’s caregiving and ensure all children thrive.