Publication Ethics

Journal of Family Law and Culture (JFLC)

Journal of Family Law and Culture (JFLC) is a peer-reviewed academic journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher.

This publication ethics statement is based on the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal is a fundamental contribution to the development of a coherent and respected body of legal scholarship. Published articles reflect the quality of the authors’ work and the institutions that support them. The peer-review process supports the integrity of academic discourse and the advancement of legal knowledge.

The publisher of JFLC is committed to ensuring that editorial decisions are independent and free from commercial, political, or personal influence. Any advertising or external funding shall not affect editorial judgment. The Editorial Board will cooperate with other journals or institutions when necessary to maintain ethical standards.

Duties of Editors

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts should be published. Decisions are based on scholarly merit, originality, clarity, relevance to the journal’s scope, and legal significance. Editors may consult with reviewers and members of the editorial board. All decisions must comply with applicable legal requirements regarding defamation, copyright, and plagiarism.

Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on intellectual content without discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors.

Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisers, and the publisher as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor’s own research without the express written consent of the author. Editors must avoid conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which such conflicts exist.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review assists editors in making publication decisions and may help authors improve their manuscripts through constructive feedback.

Promptness

Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a manuscript or unable to complete the review in a timely manner should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without authorization from the editor.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively and professionally. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should express their views clearly and provide supporting arguments.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. They should also inform the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other published works known to them.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Information obtained through peer review must remain confidential and not be used for personal advantage. Reviewers should decline review assignments if conflicts of interest exist.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors must present an accurate account of their research and provide an objective discussion of its significance. Legal arguments must be supported by appropriate authorities, statutes, jurisprudence, and scholarly references. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior.

Data Access and Retention

For empirical or socio-legal research, authors may be required to provide raw data for editorial review and should retain such data for a reasonable time after publication.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are entirely original. Proper citation and quotation must be provided when using the work or ideas of others. All submissions are subject to plagiarism screening.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Redundant publication is considered unethical.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite all publications that have influenced their research.

Authorship

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, analysis, or interpretation of the study. All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their findings. All sources of funding must be clearly stated.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If an author discovers a significant error in a published work, they must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in correcting or retracting the article when necessary.

Journal of Family Law and Culture (JFLC)
Editor-in-Chief