Publication Ethics

The Indonesian Journal of Gender Justice and Family Law (InGeFaL) is a peer-reviewed scholarly periodical published by Mahkota Science Publishers. The journal is founded upon a rigorous system of independent academic review and is firmly committed to the preservation of intellectual integrity, transparency, and scholarly accountability. All submissions are evaluated in accordance with established international standards, including the ethical principles articulated by Elsevier and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Authors who submit manuscripts to InGeFaL affirm that their work is original, has not been plagiarised, and is neither under consideration elsewhere nor previously published. The journal employs appropriate similarity-detection mechanisms and editorial scrutiny to safeguard against misconduct. Through these measures, InGeFaL seeks to contribute to the development of a coherent, credible, and ethically grounded body of knowledge in the fields of gender justice and family law.

Ethical Foundations of Scholarly Publication

The publication of research in a peer-reviewed journal constitutes both an academic achievement and a public trust. It reflects not only the intellectual merit of the authors but also the integrity of the institutions that support them. Ethical publication practices are therefore indispensable to the advancement of the scientific method, the reliability of academic discourse, and the broader social legitimacy of research.

InGeFaL recognises that ethical responsibility is shared collectively among authors, editors, reviewers, the publisher, and the wider scholarly community. Mahkota Science Publishers affirms its obligation to ensure that ethical principles govern every stage of the editorial and publication process, from submission and review to post-publication oversight.

Responsibilities of Authors

Accuracy, Transparency, and Data Integrity

Authors are expected to present an accurate, objective, and comprehensive account of their research. Underlying data must be reported faithfully, without fabrication, falsification, or selective omission. Manuscripts should contain sufficient methodological detail and appropriate references to enable replication or verification by other scholars. Where feasible, authors should provide access to underlying research data in accordance with recognised standards, including the Sherpa Romeo framework and the ALPSP-STM Statement on Data and Databases, and should retain such data for a reasonable period following publication.

Originality and Proper Attribution

InGeFaL requires that submitted work be wholly original. Any use of another scholar’s ideas, words, data, or findings must be properly acknowledged through accurate citation or quotation. Plagiarism—whether through direct copying, substantial paraphrasing without attribution, misappropriation of research, or representation of another’s work as one’s own—constitutes a serious breach of publication ethics and will not be tolerated. The submission of fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate information is equally impermissible.

Simultaneous submission to multiple journals, or the publication of substantially similar research in more than one outlet without proper justification, is regarded as unethical and unacceptable.

Authorship and Acknowledgement

Authorship should be restricted to those who have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All qualifying contributors must be appropriately listed, and individuals who contributed in a more limited capacity should be duly acknowledged. The corresponding author bears responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of authorship attribution, confirming that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript, and securing their agreement to publication.

Disclosure of Interests and Funding

Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial interests that could reasonably be perceived to influence the research findings or their interpretation. All sources of research funding should be transparently declared within the manuscript to preserve the independence and credibility of scholarly analysis.

Ethical Conduct in Research Practice

Research involving hazardous materials must clearly state associated risks and relevant safety precautions. Studies involving human participants must comply with recognised ethical frameworks, such as the Declaration of Helsinki or the Belmont Report, and must prioritise dignity, privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent. Risks to participants must be minimised and proportionate to anticipated benefits.

Similarly, research involving animals must adhere to established welfare standards, including relevant national legislation and internationally recognised guidance on humane treatment, housing, and minimisation of suffering.

Post-Publication Responsibility

Where authors identify significant errors in published work, they are obliged to notify the Editor promptly and cooperate fully in issuing corrections, clarifications, or retractions as necessary.

Responsibilities of Editors

Impartiality and Fair Evaluation

Editors are entrusted with safeguarding the intellectual integrity of the journal. Manuscripts must be assessed solely on their scholarly merit, without discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnicity, or political belief. Editorial decisions should be guided by the significance, originality, and methodological soundness of the research, together with its relevance to the journal’s scope.

Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest

Editors and editorial board members must maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts. Unpublished material may not be used for personal research purposes without the explicit written consent of the author. Editors must also recuse themselves from handling submissions where conflicts of interest may compromise impartial judgement.

Oversight of the Peer Review Process

Editors are responsible for establishing and maintaining a transparent, fair, and robust peer review process. Reviewers should be selected on the basis of subject expertise and independence, and the procedures governing review must be clearly communicated to authors. Editors must also ensure that submissions are screened for originality and compliance with ethical standards.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Scholarly Contribution and Objectivity

Peer reviewers play a central role in maintaining academic standards. Through constructive and evidence-based critique, they assist editors in making publication decisions and support authors in refining the quality of their work. Reviews must be conducted objectively, without personal criticism, and should be supported by reasoned argument.

Confidentiality and Ethical Conduct

Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers may not disclose or exploit unpublished information for personal advantage. Where conflicts of interest exist—whether competitive, collaborative, or institutional—reviewers must decline to participate in the evaluation process.

Reviewers are also expected to identify relevant published work not cited by the author and to alert the editor to any substantial overlap between the manuscript under review and existing literature.

Post-Publication Ethics and Corrections

Scholarly integrity extends beyond publication. InGeFaL recognises several mechanisms for post-publication amendment, each designed to preserve the reliability of the academic record.

An erratum addresses significant production errors attributable to the journal. A corrigendum corrects substantive errors introduced by the author. A retraction formally invalidates published findings where conclusions have been fundamentally undermined, requiring the agreement of all co-authors and a clear explanation of the grounds for withdrawal. An addendum provides supplementary clarification where additional information enhances understanding without altering the principal conclusions.

Readers who raise concerns regarding a published article may notify the Editor-in-Chief, who will initiate a review process in consultation with relevant experts and the authors concerned.

Sanctions and Disciplinary Measures

Allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, redundancy, or other forms of misconduct are treated with utmost seriousness. The Editorial Board is responsible for determining appropriate action in accordance with the journal’s Code of Publication Ethics. Confidentiality is maintained throughout the investigative process.

Sanctions may include rejection of the manuscript, formal retraction of a published article, temporary prohibition on future submissions, or notification of the author’s affiliated institution. Where misconduct is established on the part of an editorial board member, removal from office and equivalent sanctions will apply.

Ethical Governance of Human Subjects Research

Research involving human participants requires prior approval from an Institutional Review Board or equivalent ethics committee. Authors must provide evidence of such approval, with identifying information appropriately redacted, and certify compliance with approved ethical procedures. Manuscripts should include a clear account of informed consent procedures or a reasoned justification where consent was not obtained.

Privacy, Confidentiality, and Informed Consent for Publication

The protection of participant anonymity and privacy is a fundamental ethical obligation. Identifiable information may be disclosed only where essential to scholarly analysis and only with documented written consent from the individual concerned. The journal rigorously examines submissions for potentially identifying information and will decline to publish material lacking appropriate consent. Should such information come to light after publication, the article may be temporarily withdrawn pending corrective action.