HAVANA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Former Cuban President Raul Castro continues to "work a lot" despite stepping down as president last month, revealed his daughter Mariela Castro on Friday, adding that he has not had time to rest.
"He continues to work a lot because handing over the government and political tasks is not a simple thing," Castro told reporters at a press conference to announce this year's campaign to mark the International Day Against Homophobia.
Castro, who heads the island's Center for Sexual Education (CENESEX), said her father is still addressing government issues with new president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, who was elected by the National Assembly on April 19.
"He hasn't had the time to have the rest that he wanted," said Mariela, the youngest of Castro's three daughters.
Raul Castro will remain as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) until 2021.
Regarding the newly elected president, Mariela Castro said Diaz-Canel is a "sensible" person regarding LGBTI rights and she hoped the new leader would continue her father's policies to include this "important sector" of Cuban society.
"I believe the new president will continue to implement and strengthen the policy approved in 2016 regarding the fight against sexual discrimination and gender inequality," she said.
Since 2007, CENESEX has commemorated International Day against Homophobia on May 17 with a parade in Havana.
Castro has said her father supports her efforts to spearhead LGBTI issues in the country.
Nonetheless, she recognized there should be "constitutional changes" to promote LGBTI rights and that a lot of work still has to be done.
"We're waiting for constitutional modifications that will facilitate the legislative changes we're proposing and include broader topics regarding LGBTI rights, including same-sex marriage," said Castro.
Castro's struggle against sexual discrimination has been influential within government officials. At Cuba's Communist Party Congress in 2016, she secured the creation of a working group to secure labor protections for LGBTI workers.
