The daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro says the country’s lawmakers will consider legalising same-sex civil unions this year.

Mariela Castro, who is also the director of the National Sex Education Centre, told Cuba Si that the Cuban Justice Minister, Maria Esther Reus, announced that same-sex unions 'is going to be discussed in the assembly, and is on the agenda for 2012.'

She added: 'I am confident that the party conference [scheduled to take place in January 2012] will help explicitly define a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, which in turn will help to dismantle prejudices that hinder its adoption.'

Castro made these comments when she was about to draft a bill that seeks to modify the Cuban Family Code to legalize same-sex unions.

She also stated on her blog that Cuba must facilitate 'cultural changes' n society to achieve 'full justice' for LGBT people through educational and social programs and communication.

Cuba’s Communist Party will gather on January 28 for its first National Conference, where the legislative reform will be put to a vote.

Mariela Castro, a sexologist, is famous in Cuba for her stance on full legal equality for LGBT people.

Gay pride parades are now happening regularly in Cuba and the government recently started an anti-homophobia campaign.

In 2008, the Cuban government approved state sponsored sex-change operations for transgender people by ministerial decree.