Corinne, how do you perceive the issue of HIV among young people today?
Compared to the past, HIV is far less present in people's minds. Many young people I work with barely know what HIV is. When the term comes up, the reaction is often: "What's that?" It's only when we talk about sexually transmitted infections that it becomes somewhat more concrete.

It used to be different. AIDS was very present and strongly associated with fear. Today many think everything is treatable or curable. We often have to clarify that HIV is indeed very well treatable, but not curable.

What misunderstandings do you encounter most often?
One of the big misunderstandings is the idea that you can "see" HIV. Many think you can recognize a sick person by their appearance. Or they believe HIV only concerns certain groups, like people who use drugs or sex workers.

The logic around medication is also often hard to grasp: young people think that if medications exist, then the disease must automatically be curable. That's where information work is needed.

It's also important to convey this message: today, people living with HIV can lead a completely "normal" life. With effective treatment and a durably undetectable viral load, sexual transmission of the virus is no longer possible (U=U).

What role does openness play, particularly among young people?
Openness is essential. In the past, a lot was kept silent – even from children. At Swiss Youth Positive, some talked about having to go to the doctor regularly and take many medications without knowing why. They felt "something was wrong," but weren't allowed to talk about it.

That can be very heavy to carry. Children and adolescents sense very well when something is being hidden. It's therefore important to communicate honestly and age-appropriately.

There's really no such thing as "too early": what matters is that the information is conveyed in an age-appropriate way.

When young people are informed, it strengthens them. They better understand what's happening to them and can also respond to misinformation.

How do you explain HIV to young people without frightening them?
Today, unlike in the past, we no longer work with fear. It's more about explaining things in an understandable way, close to everyday life.

Simplified examples are useful, like herpes: sometimes visible, sometimes not. This helps them understand that you can't always recognize an illness.

It's also important not to isolate HIV, but to address it within the context of relationships, trust, and consent. It's not just about risk, but also about responsibility and mutual respect. And above all, pleasure!

What role does sexuality play in young people's lives today?
In practice, we observe that sexuality has shifted strongly into the digital space. Many young people consume pornographic content very early on, while having little real experience – like holding hands or kissing.

This creates insecurities. Sexuality is often perceived as a performance rather than something connected to closeness, trust, and mutual consent.

Concretely, we answer a huge number of questions like: "Is this normal?" A large part of our work consists of reassuring, normalizing, and conveying realistic representations of sexuality.

Has this also changed your work?
Yes, enormously. Today it's less about conveying knowledge alone and more about helping put things into perspective and reflect.

We help young people "come back down to earth": to move away from digital images and back to real human experiences. Topics like consent, body perception, and self-determination have become central.

What is particularly important to you in HIV prevention?
That we move away from communication based solely on fear and risk. HIV prevention shouldn't be reduced to just "protection."

Sexuality also includes pleasure, closeness, and beautiful human experiences. Young people have the right to understand these dimensions. If we only talk about risks, we create a distorted picture.

It's just as important to dismantle prejudices and talk openly about HIV. No one should be ashamed of an illness.

What do you hope for the future?
More openness and fewer taboos. Knowledge reduces fear – and fear often leads to prejudice.

Sex education isn't just about conveying knowledge, but also about working on relationships: young people need to learn to recognize what's right for them, take responsibility, and interact with respect for one another.