The conference consisted of a panel discussion with keynote speaker Neil Gerrard MP. Eighty-two HIV-positive young people from all over the UK participated in interactive and peer-led workshops on topics such as relationships and disclosure.
The theme for World Aids Day 2009 was I Am, incorporated within the topic of Universal Access and Human Rights, targeting the key messages: "I am accepted", "I am safe", and "I am getting treatment".
One of the young participants commented on the wider social implications of living with HIV ahead of the conference: "If you are young and HIV-positive in today's society, you are hard pressed to find a sympathetic or understanding ear. People's preconceptions govern their behaviour and if you do not hide who you are you quickly become victimised or marginalised - not because people are cruel but because people fear what they do not understand.
"Being involved in the network has allowed me to meet people who have been through similar things to me - it has helped me explore myself and the world that we live in."
- For more information, visit www.ncb.org.uk/hiv
