Prevention since 1987

The first Swiss HIV prevention campaign dates back to 1987. Ever since, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has been working with partner organisations to run annual awareness campaigns on HIV protection featuring posters and adverts. Initially as STOP AIDS, then later as LOVE LIFE – STOP AIDS, and since 2005 as LOVE LIFE. Since 2011, the campaign has also raised awareness about other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and safer sex.

The aim of LOVE LIFE is to promote the sexual health literacy and risk awareness of sexually active people in Switzerland. Since 2024 the campaign has focussed on personalised recommendations on protection and testing for HIV, STIs, and hepatitis B and C. The central tool for this is the Safer Sex Check.

The Swiss AIDS Federation has been a partner of the LOVE LIFE campaign since 1987, and SEXUAL HEALTH SWITZERLAND since 2011. Both organisations work with the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) to develop and implement the campaigns. The LOVE LIFE campaign is financed by the FOPH.

‘Ready! Do your safer sex check’

The term ‘safer sex’ originally referred to preventive measures to protect against infection with HIV. Today, ‘safer sex’ also includes protection against other sexually transmitted infections.

The new LOVE LIFE campaign therefore focuses on personal, risk-based protection and testing recommendations rather than on general safer sex rules for everyone. To this end, a new safer sex check has been developed that shows individual options for action.

The new campaign's main message is therefore: ‘Do your safer sex check’. Only then are you ‘ready!’ for sex. The condom remains an important means of prevention, but is no longer the focus of the campaign.  

The LOVE LIFE campaign 2024 started on 25 April. It includes four campaign subjects, three short films and various measures in online media and social networks.

At lovelife.ch, in addition to the check, you can find more in-depth information, for example on protection, risks, symptoms, tests, as well as HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Links to counselling and testing centres are also provided.

Safer Sex

Safer Sex means protecting yourself against sexually transmitted infections. There are different risks, protection options and protection recommendations depending on the infection.