US President Obama has recast American policy on nuclear weapons, fulfilling a commitment he made during the election campaign. Delivering a speech to thousands in the former soviet-city of Prague in the Czech Republic, he used the language of moving toward a ‘nuclear-free world’. However, he also re-committed the US to their missile defense shield, an issue of great unrest for Russia. The imagery was powerful, and the design behind it hard to miss. Featured in story: Rory Medcalf, Program Director of International Security at the Lowy Institute, and Richard Tanter, Director of the Nautilus Institute at RMIT in Melbourne.

West Papuan cities have been rocked by large protests in recent days with independence groups calling for a boycott of the upcoming Indonesian elections. Four demonstrators were shot by the Indonesian military early this morning but many more took to the streets this afternoon. They’re also calling for a new referendum on West Papuan independence and they say that the last referendum, in 1969, was rigged to guarantee Indonesian control of the province. They’re hoping that the protests will galvanize international support behind the independence movement but Indonesia’s ban on foreign journalists is making this difficult. Protesters are also hoping that Australia moves away from its unwavering support for Indonesian sovereignty over the province. Featured in story: Paula Makabory - activist with the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights & Victor Yeimo - chairman of the West Papuan National Committee & Jim Elmslie - executive officer of the West Papua Project at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney.

A UN Committee has released its report into Australia’s human rights performance. And we’re not doing so well. In order to comply with our obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Australia must revise the Northern Territory Intervention. Other recommendations included compensation for the Stolen Generations and security for refugees. Featured in story: Tom Calma- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

How can good health stop ex-prisoners re-offending? This is one of the many themes on the table for discussion at a conference in Melbourne this week. The Public Health Association of Australia has gathered a myriad of experts to speak at “Justice Health in Australia: Beyond the Convict Era”. The Wire looks at how this theme affects Indigenous ex-prisoners in particular. Featured in story: John Van Den Dungen- ACT Young Australian of the Year-2007 & Associate Professor Ted Wilkes- Chair of the National Indigenous Drug & Alcohol Committee.

It’s a human right that most of us take for granted, but confidential voting is something the visually impaired have rarely had access to. In the 2007 federal election, the trial of computerized voting for the visually impaired provided everyone in the country with the right to privacy while voting. But the parliaments electoral matters committee has deemed the process too expensive, with a per vote cost of over $2,500. The committee has recommended that the system be scrapped. In retaliation, some advocacy groups for the visually impaired have called for a boycott of the next federal election. Featured in story: Paul Harpur - disability spokesperson for Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, and Graeme Orr, Associate Professor in of Law at the University of Queensland.