Social Empowerment Journal (SEJ)

Preamble: Our Commitment to Scholarly Integrity

The Social Empowerment Journal (SEJ) is firmly committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical practice in scholarly publishing. Our reputation and credibility depend on strict adherence to internationally recognized frameworks such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

This document is both a statement of ethical principles and a manual of operational procedures, ensuring that every participant in the publication process— authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—understands their responsibilities and is held accountable for maintaining transparency, fairness, and academic integrity.

1. Duties and Responsibilities of the Editorial Team

1.1 Editorial Independence and Decision-Making

• The Editor-in-Chief has full independence and ultimate authority over all editorial decisions.
• Decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, relevance, originality, and methodological rigor.
• External influences (sponsors, institutions, or commercial partners) cannot interfere in the editorial process. This independence is contractually guaranteed.

1.2 Peer Review Process

• SEJ uses a double-blind peer review system. Authors and reviewers remain anonymous to one another.
• Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two qualified reviewers.
• Final editorial decisions (acceptance, revision, or rejection) are documented with clear justifications referencing reviewers’ feedback.

1.3 Confidentiality and Data Security

• Manuscripts are handled through a secure editorial system with restricted access.
• Editors and staff must not disclose information about submissions except to those directly involved in the review process.

1.4 Conflict of Interest (CoI) Management

• All editors and board members must submit an annual conflict-of-interest declaration.
• Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist (e.g., recent collaboration, same institution, financial interests).
• Submissions authored by editors or board members are managed independently by an external guest editor to avoid bias.

1.5 Post-Publication Responsibilities

SEJ maintains a Post-Publication Integrity Committee to handle ethical concerns after publication. Possible actions include:

• Correction: for minor errors not affecting findings.
• Expression of Concern: when allegations remain under investigation.
• Retraction: for confirmed plagiarism, fabrication, or misconduct.

All corrective notices are linked permanently to the original article, in line with COPE Retraction Guidelines.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

2.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit only original work. All manuscripts are screened using Turnitin and Detectia. A similarity index of >20% overall or >5% from a single source triggers manual review. Confirmed plagiarism leads to rejection or retraction, and may result in a submission ban of up to three years.

2.2 Research Integrity

Authors must present accurate data and methods with sufficient detail for replication. Fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of results is strictly prohibited.

2.3 Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship must reflect substantial scholarly contribution. Changes in authorship require written approval from all listed authors. (Reference: ICMJE Guidelines on Authorship).

2.4 Data Transparency and Availability

Authors are encouraged to deposit anonymized datasets in recognized repositories. A Data Availability Statement with repository link or DOI must be included in the final manuscript where applicable.

2.5 Ethical Approval and Consent

Research involving humans or animals must include an Ethical Approval Statement with the name of the ethics committee, approval number, and a statement on informed consent. Compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and ARRIVE Guidelines is required.

2.6 Conflicts of Interest and Funding

Authors must disclose all financial or personal conflicts of interest. Funding sources must be acknowledged, and disclosures are published with the article.

2.7 Use of AI and AI-Assisted Tools

Authors must declare any use of AI tools in a dedicated section “Declaration of AI Usage.” The statement must specify the tool, its purpose, and verification steps. AI tools cannot be credited as authors.

2.8 Pre-Registration of Studies

SEJ strongly encourages pre-registration of study protocols. For clinical trials, pre-registration in a WHO- or ICMJE-approved registry is mandatory.

3. Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

3.1 Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

Reviews must be objective, evidence-based, and constructive using SEJ’s Review Form.

3.2 Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential. They may not share, cite, or use unpublished material without permission.

3.3 Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must declare any conflicts before accepting a review. Failure to disclose conflicts may result in exclusion from the reviewer pool.

3.4 Reviewer Misconduct

Cases of bias, misrepresentation, or ethical violations by reviewers will be investigated. Authors may request a formal appeal if misconduct affects editorial judgment.

4. Responsibilities for Published Articles

4.1 Integrity of the Scholarly Record

SEJ ensures that the published record remains accurate, transparent, and trustworthy, following COPE flowcharts.

4.2 Corrective Measures

• Erratum: for minor errors.
• Expression of Concern: for ongoing investigations.
• Retraction: for proven misconduct or invalid findings.

4.3 Appeals Process

Authors may submit one formal appeal against rejection with a detailed rebuttal. Appeals are reviewed by an independent editor.

5. Journal-Wide Policies

5.1 Open Access and Copyright

SEJ is an open-access journal under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license.

5.2 Digital Preservation

SEJ partners with LOCKSS and PKP PN to ensure permanent accessibility.

5.3 Fairness and Equality

SEJ promotes equality and non-discrimination regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, or institutional affiliation.

5.4 Transparency in Review Timelines

The review process is completed within 4–6 weeks, depending on reviewer availability.