May
AJEE Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
PUBLICATION ETHICS AND MALPRACTICE STATEMENT
About the Journal
Aims and Scope
The main aim of AJEE is to offer a forum for discussion of topical issues of judiciary and civil procedure reforms, sharing of research results related to access to justice developments in East European countries. This scope has been chosen due to special mixed features of post-social legal doctrine’s legacy and Western influence, as well as the legislative approximation to the EU law. We also welcome and encourage submissions from other regions that explore comparative perspectives or offer insights into global trends and developments related to access to justice.
Editorial Policies
Open Access Policy
AJEE is an Open Access Journal that quarterly publishes original research articles and other materials, necessary for researching, which can be read without the requirement for registration of any kind.
The registration is necessary only for submitting a manuscript and for reviewing it (Submissions).
We strongly support the Budapest Open Access Initiative, 2002 and follow it in our activities:
By "open access" to this [research] literature, we mean its free availability on the public internet, permitting any users to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of these articles, crawl them for indexing, pass them as data to software, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without financial, legal, or technical barriers other than those inseparable from gaining access to the internet itself. The only constraint on reproduction and distribution and the only role for copyright in this domain should be to give authors control over the integrity of their work and the right to be properly acknowledged and cited.
We also support the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing, released June 20, 2003 and the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities of 22 October 2003, in particular, the transition to the Electronic Open Access Paradigm.
Copyright Notice
While submitting the manuscript to AJEE, authors confirm and certify that:
1. They are authorized by their co-authors to act on their behalf regarding the manuscript and in correspondence with the editorial team.
2. The manuscript submitted to the Journal has not been published before; it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere; its publication has been approved by all author(s) and responsible authorities of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
3. They can provide written permission from the copyright holders to reproduce any material - parts of the manuscript that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
They agree to the following licence and copyright agreement:
1. Copyright on any article is retained by the author(s). Regarding copyright transfers please see below.
2. Authors grant the East European Law Research Center (EELRC) a license to publish the article (the original publisher is VD Dakor).
3. Authors grant any third party the right to use the article freely as long as its original authors and citation details are identified.
The article and any associated published material is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0):
Nothing in this licence impairs or restricts the right of an author to protect the integrity and ownership of their work.
The journal is wholly owned by the East European Law Research Center (EELRC).
All content is published in good faith and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of EELRC or the Journal.
Privacy Statement
In accordance with the Law of Ukraine ‘On Personal Data Protection’ as a subject of personal data, authors give the public non-profit organization "Center for Studies of Eastern European Law" as the owner of personal data my voluntary, informed, and unambiguous consent to:
- processing of their personal data (Article 2 of the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection");
- use of their personal data, which includes any actions of the owner of personal data to process this data, actions to protect them, as well as actions to grant partial or full right to process personal data to other subjects of relations related to personal data (Article 10 of the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection");
- dissemination of their personal data, which provides for the actions of the owner of personal data on the transfer of information about an individual (Article 14 of the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection");
- third party access to their personal data (Article 16 of the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection").
The authors confirm that they have been duly notified of the purpose of the processing of their personal data, namely the preparation for publication, review, editing and publication of the manuscript in Access to Justice in Eastern Europe, in print and on the publication's website, in social networks.
Personal data may be transferred to / from other electronic information resources solely for the purpose of their processing (collection), without further notification of the personal data subject of such transfer.
The authors confirm that the purpose and conditions of processing their personal data are clear and they agree with them.
COPE Compliance
AJEE is the COPE Member (Committee on Publication Ethics) and fully supports the guidelines established by the COPE and is committed to investigating any suspected instances of research and publication misconduct, such as falsification, unethical experimentation, plagiarism, inappropriate image manipulation, and redundant publication (http://www.publicationethics.org). Additionally, you can refer to the Journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement (last updated on 05 May 2023) for further information.
We support the recommendations of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE), in particular, most useful tools you may find here https://ease.org.uk/publications/author-guidelines-authors-and-translators/ https://ease.org.uk/publications/ease-toolkit-authors/
Publication schedule and frequency
In 2023 AJEE is going to present our next issues according to the following schedule: No 1/2023 - February 2023; No 2/2023 - May 2023; No 3/2023 - August 2023; No 4/2023 - November 2023.
The launch of the special issue 2023 will be announced once it is ready. Please stay tuned for updates and announcements regarding the release of the issue.
Publication model
AJEE is an Open Access Journal that quarterly publishes original research articles and other materials, necessary for researching, which can be read without the requirement for registration of any kind. The registration is necessary only for submitting a manuscript and for reviewing it. We strongly support the Budapest Open Access Initiative, 2002 and follow it in our activities. We also support the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing, released June 20, 2003 and the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities of 22 October 2003, in particular, the transition to the Electronic Open Access Paradigm.
Peer review model
Peer review is a crucial point of high-quality content, published in AJEE. All of AJEE content is subjected to double blind peer-review with the aim of obtaining advice on individual manuscripts from reviewers and the recommendation about the publication of the article and/or improving the study. The only exception from peer review is an Introduction of the Editor-in-Chief, which appears in each of the Journal’s issues.
The process of peer review used by our Editorial Team is clearly described in our Rules, you may find on this page http://ajee-journal.com/submissions . In addition, we recommended to familiarize with the COPE guidelines https://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines-new/cope-ethical-guidelines-peer-reviewers and Elsevier best practices of peer review and widely apply it within the peer review.
AJEE reviewers are external experts, who are well-known specialists in a particular area of legal research, related to the manuscript, chosen by managing editors to provide opinions, who have no conflict of interest with author(s). We support any warnings of reviewers and oversee the peer review for avoiding any fraudulent or manipulated acts, on the side of authors, as well as on the side of the reviewers.
We put in efforts that all judgments and findings, which have been given in the peer-review process, are objective, if not, a responsible editor has to change reviewers and conduct an additional review.
Reviewers should assess the manuscript in general and give their competent advice concerning the possible publication of the manuscript in the regular issue of AJEE or in special issue. The special issue of AJEE has an additional guest-editor (or editors) for quality checking and control.
All reviewed articles are treated confidentially prior to their publication, in any case avoiding copying, transferring to third parties, publicly discussing its content, as well as using any data, ideas or arguments of the manuscript. The responsibility for these lies upon the reviewers and the editors jointly. All our reviewers strongly support and execute the publication ethics of AJEE, which is confirmed before a responsible editor.
Author information
Authorship of the particular manuscript, submitted for publication, is a very important point for the publication process to begin and be successfully finished. We believe and recognize the authorship of a person, mentioned in the submission, while the opposite was not discovered within the proper investigation according to the rules and guidelines of COPE and Elsevier. In particular, author(s) should take responsibility for the content of their manuscript, the ideas and opinions, given in their research result, as well as proper sources citation and methodology of studying, in any case avoiding of research misconduct.
Co-authorship is acceptable in AJEE and carried out with the following. We believe that all co-authors have significantly contributed to the particular research, submitted for publication, and should confirm their responsibility for a whole manuscript or a particular section of the study. One particular author should act on behalf of all the co-authors communicating with us. Despite this, any of co-authors should direct their allegations to Editorial team in the event of any concerns via e-mail editor@ajee-journal.com
Our authors are obliged to participate in a double-blind peer review process in line with well-known practices and our requirements, please, see more on page http://ajee-journal.com/submissions
The author(s) are obliged to provide retractions or corrections of mistakes upon request of reviewers or editors. The author(s) should provide a list of references in accordance with the Journal requirements.
The author(s) should mention any financial support of their publication, in particular, concerning funding of projects within which a particular research has been conducted.
All our author(s) confirm their strong support and execute Publication rules of AJEE.
We support and highly recommend the CRediT – Contributor Roles Taxonomy representing the roles typically played by contributors to manuscripts and highly recommend it to our authors. Please, find more information here https://casrai.org/credit/ Authors should define each contribution according to the following recommendations. Each person who meets the first criterion should be allowed to participate in the drafting and approval of the final version of authors should be determined before submission of the manuscript, because any changes made after submission should be approved by all authors and explained to the name order journal editor.
Errata, corrections, retractions and appeals
In the event that a significant error is detected in an article, our top priority is to fairly investigate and rectify the situation. We will take appropriate action, either by issuing a correction notice or retracting the article, depending on the nature and severity of the error. Our approach adheres to the retraction guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and we utilize the EASE Standard Retraction Form.
The specific procedure for article retractions is fully outlined in the Journal's rules. If authors disagree with a decision to retract an article and believe that retraction is unwarranted, they have the option to appeal the decision to the Chief Editor. The managing editor, who was not involved in the publication of the article, will review and discuss appeals. If necessary, the managing editor may consult with the Editor-in-Chief. Articles that undergo the appeal process may undergo further review. However, it is important to note that the decision reached at the end of the appeal process is considered final. We welcome alternative and peaceful resolution of any dispites arising from the publisher, editors and authors communication.
As per the COPE Retraction Guidelines that our journal follows, articles may be retracted due to unreliable conclusions, redundant publication, or unethical research misconduct such as plagiarism. The EASE Retraction Form is used for the withdrawal procedure, which occurs after careful consideration of appeals from editors, authors, or readers. If an appeal finds any of the above reasons, a statement of retraction will be added to the PDF file of the article. In cases where there is evidence of misconduct or unreliable conclusions, but an investigation is not planned or underway, a statement of concern may be published on the Journal's website.
Allegations of Research Misconduct
Academic integrity is crucial for the progress of science and universities. Academic integrity entails a set of ethical principles and rules that should be followed by participants in the educational and scientific process to ensure trust in study and creative achievements. Violations of academic integrity, such as academic plagiarism and fabrication, may occur and should be reported to the editor-in-chief. The process of investigation for alleged violations involves participation from various parties, including department heads and editors-in-chief. Those accused of violating academic integrity have the right to review evidence and provide explanations. Violations may result in various consequences, such as refusing to publish, depriving the editor or reviewer of the right to participate in editorial work, or banning the author from publishing.
Post-publication Discussions and Corrections
The editors encourage constructive debate and criticism of published scientific articles, but any changes to the text must be coordinated with the authors. Minor corrections can be made without agreement. Personal attacks and discriminatory remarks are not allowed in discussions. Minor errors can be corrected by publishing changes, while significant errors require a separate publication with their own DOI. The decision to publish corrections is made by the editor-in-chief in consultation with the authors and managing editor.
Disclaimer
Neither the Journal nor the East European Law Research Center, including the Publishing House ‘Dakor’, its employees, agents, content providers, or licensors guarantee that the editorial work of the journal will be carried out without interruptions or errors. They do not make any guarantees regarding the results obtained from using the contents of the journal publications, nor the accuracy or reliability of any information contained therein. Any legal, or other information found in the magazine is provided for informational and scientific purposes only and is not a substitute for qualified professional advice.
Under no circumstances shall the Journal or Center or any person or entity involved in the creation, production, or distribution of the Journal or its content be liable in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise for any damages, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive, indirect, or similar damages, including but not limited to lost profits or revenues, loss of use, or similar economic losses arising from the use or inability to use the contents of the magazine.
All readers and authors acknowledge that the provisions of this section apply to any use of the journal's content. The applicable legislation is that of Ukraine, regardless of the person's place of residence or registration. Under no circumstances shall the Journal or Center be liable for any damages, losses, or causes of action arising from the use or inability to use the contents of the magazine, exceeding the amount that the author paid for publication in the magazine.
Preprint Policy
In AJEE we accept preprints as a means to foster open and timely dissemination of research findings. Authors are encouraged to share their research as preprints on platforms such as SSRN (Social Science Research Network) prior to formal publication in our journal.
To ensure transparency and facilitate proper citation, we require authors to inform the editor about their intention to share their work as a preprint. This can be done by providing the editor with the preprint link and any relevant information during the submission process.
By allowing preprints, we aim to promote early access to research and encourage collaboration within the academic community. Preprints provide an opportunity for researchers to receive feedback and engage in scholarly discussions before the formal peer-review process.
Please note that the publication of a preprint does not affect the consideration of the manuscript for formal publication in our journal. The peer-review process will still be conducted independently, and the final published version will undergo rigorous review and editorial processes.
We believe that embracing preprints enhances the research ecosystem and accelerates the dissemination of knowledge. We encourage authors to take advantage of this opportunity to share their work openly and contribute to the advancement of their respective fields.
Editorial Process. Conflicts of Interest.
The Editorial Team and editors of AJEE are committed to their independence from any conflicts of interest, corporate, personal or any other influence, which may lead to a violation of the principles, specified here, or any widely used principles of publishing in the scholarly community. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the selection of materials for publication on the grounds of two external reviewers’ assessments and recommendations of the managing editor.
All the Editorial Board and Advisory Board members share these principles and widely use practices of best publishing. We try to ensure that any of our publication is free from influence, in particular, due to corporate or commercial benefits, as well as free from any form of conflicts of interest. Author(s) while submitting a manuscript should declare any potential conflicts of interest with any member of the editorial team, other staff of the Editorial Board or publisher, who could interfere with the objectivity of its assessment.
By conflicts of interest we mean an influence on the submission, editing, reviewing and/or publication of a manuscript, the lack of which could lead to the refusal of the publication. By competing interest, we mean anything that could reasonably influence the full, objective and free opinion of the author, reviewer or editor, including the Editor-in-Chief concerning the publication of the particular article. In the event of any allegations of an undisclosed conflict of interest, please, contact the Editor-in-Chief for investigation and decision-making of a publication retraction.
We support the freedom of expression as an integral part of academic research, unless any research misconduct is discovered. Also, we do not support any harmful or subjective statements, racist or any other form of discriminating points of view and any announcements, which may be considered as a human rights' violation.
All the appeals concerning the violation of the decision-making process should be directed to Editor-in-Chief editor@ajee-journal.com
Publication fees
AJEE publishes in full Open Access under a CC BY 4.0 license which permits to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so as long as attribution is given to the creator.
Authors pay a one-time Article Processing Charge (APC) to cover the costs of peer review administration and management, professional production of articles in PDF and other formats, and dissemination of published papers in various venues, in addition to other publishing functions.
There are no charges for rejected articles, no submission charges, and no surcharges based on for the length of an article, figures or supplementary data. Some items (Editorial Notes, Corrections, Retractions, Book Reviews) are published free of charge.
AJEE waives 20% of its content every issue. We are committed to supporting the transition of all research to full open access, so offer APC waivers or discounts to some authors. We display an APC in order to demonstrate to authors that there is a cost to publication.
Service functions % of total Amount (Euro)
Total publication fee per article (Euro) 1050
1. Publishing Operations 20% 210
2. Journal publication and distribution 30% 315
3. Editorial Fees 20% 210
4. Marketing and Communication 5% 52,5
5. General 5% 52,5
6. Discounts & waivers 20% 210
Sponsors and affiliated institutions
Members of association founded and affiliated to an AJEE journal benefit from a discount as well as authors affiliated to institutions participating in our Partners Program.
Sustainable Development in AJEE
In Access to Justice in Eastern Europe, we strongly support sustainable development and make our efforts visible in the following ways: first of all, we support the idea of a joint blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet and follow the strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth. We provide a waiver policy for charges – AJEE waives more than 20% of its content for every issue. Secondly, we support the sharing of research and results related to sustainable development. In particular, we made a Gateway for Sustainable Justice and Dispute Resolution and provided a place for regular publications from scholarly societies, institutions, and science communities, as well as for individuals who are studying relevant issues of sustainable justice and Goal 16.
EDI policy statement
In Access to Justice in Eastern Europe, we strongly believe that no discrimination should take place within academic activities and scholarly publishing. This statement contains our rules on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, implemented in our everyday work, which we hope fit with shared values and help everyone access our service without any discrimination.
With this in mind, we have tried to create a welcoming environment for all our customers and readers and to contribute to the development of an equitable community.
Diversity means that we recognise various human features and welcome them in a positive way, making our community inclusive rather than exclusive. Equity refers to ensuring equitable access and opportunities for everyone who works with us – authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. Inclusion concerns how we behave in our activities, making all our efforts visible and providing opportunities for all to be heard and considered equally.
To successfully implement the above, we have created the AJEE DE&I Action Plan, where we have placed details of the actions that we implement in our work and where we intend to go in the future.
First of all, we support interested professionals who would like to be more involved in the Journal’s activities as managing editors, responsible for considering and reviewing articles. We are pleased to welcome our new editors, who joined us during the last year, and wish them all the best in their endeavours.
Secondly, we are always open to welcoming those who want to contribute to our Journal’s development as our Editorial Board members, responsible for developing our Journal policy and strategy. We strongly support the idea of diversity and equality of representatives, practitioners, and academics of all genders and ages among our Board members.
Thirdly, we are moving to include equal proportions of people of different ethnicities and genders among our authors and reviewers, as well as ensuring the representation of people with disabilities in our Journal community as a whole.
