By giving women and young people an independent voice to address their ideas, wishes and concerns the Dengue Nué radio station aims to support the idea of free media and democracy. The radio project aims to build a broad based communication platform for women and young people to:

• distribute independent and community relevant information;
• raise awareness for the problems women and youth face;
• help shift public opinion toward women’s rights;
• give women and young people a specific representation;
• give a voice to women’s experiences;
• integrate women and youth in peaceful community based networks;
• motivate and encourage them to actively take part in decision making processes and public debates (which are usually dominated by men); and
• raise public awareness and knowledge toward specific problems (as divorce, pregnancy, child care).

The key intended audience of Dengue Nué is women and young people. The reporting focuses on issues relevant to this group, for example: fighting violence against women, health issues, society and disablement, sexuality and contraception, legal status of women, understandable analysis of the situation in the Middle East - especially in Iraq and Kurdistan, and also the struggle against prejudices. The station aims to raise awareness of such issues as women's rights. The radio station is a forum that women are able to use for reporting about their situation and experiences. Talk shows, news, self-made reportages and advice programmes are part of the radio schedule, as well as entertainment.

According to the radio station organisers, 60 % of the Iraqi population are under 20 years old which is why they consider that to safeguard a peaceful future it is fundamental to improve their understanding of democratic institutions and networking. Dengue Nué gives young people the chance to produce radio for their peers. They gain journalism skills and they learn more about topics like: equality between men and women, background information about schooling possibilities, music, fashion, international exchange of cultural and entertaining shows, etc. Training courses are held with international experts, who helped the staff to develop their skills.

Youth, Women, Rights, Conflict

Fourteen young women and men make up the staff of Dengue Nué. They are all survivors of a chemical gas attack on Halabja in 1988 and share a traumatic past of death and displacement, escape and exile, returning and internment in so called Collective Towns, which were controlled by the Ba´thist army.