Publication Ethics

In the guidelines (outlining writing rules and regulations) has been underscored the importance of author’s statement that his/her (or their) articles has never been published earlier in whatever media and is not the result of plagiarism.

As a legal scientific journal, Veritas et Justitia, has the responsibility, to assure and guarantee that publication ethics, at each step of the process, shall be honored. Therefore it is of utmost importance that every stakeholder (author(s), editorial boards, reviewers, publishers and society in general) agrees to support and uphold publication ethics or standards established.

Selection and Decision to Publish

The editiorial/managing board possess the authority to select articles submitted by contributors. Editors following guidelines determined by the Editorial Boards decides which articles, evaluated and passing the peer review, shall be accepted and published.  The Board shall take into account and review manuscripts on the basis of its likely possibility of defamation, copyright infringement or plagiarism.  In this respect, the Board shall also open discussion with peer reviewers. Contributors, readers or visitors should respect the Board’s final decision in this matter.

Non-discrimination-Fair Treatment

The Editorial/Managing Board guarantees fair treatment to all contributor and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, political or philosophical orientations.

Confidentiality

The editorial boards and editors is under the obligation not to reveal any information regarding manuscripts submitted and the personal identity of the contributor to third parties, including but not limited to other contributors and peer reviewers.  Similarly, the board as well as editors shall not reveal peer reviewers’ identity to contributors.  All manuscripts submitted, unless otherwise decided by editors, shall not be subjected to open discussion. Subject matters not published should not be used by the editors or the board in any way, unless they acquire prior consent from contributors/authors.

PEER REVIEWERS TAKS AND RESPONSIBILITY

Reviewers participation and contribution

Peer reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions which shall be communicated to the contributors by the editors.

Confidentiality

Every manuscript submitted and received should be treated as confidential document. Without prior consent from the editors, each manuscript should not be disclosed nor discussed with other third parties.

Objectivity

Evaluation shall be conducted objectively. Authors/contributors is not allowed to convey criticism with regard to peer review’s evaluation.  Peer reviewers should give their expert opinion in regard to the manuscript’s content and its parts and provide supporting arguments when doing so.

Acknowledgments of Referrences

All contributors is under the obligation to provide references to sources used. Peer reviewers may provide suggestions on additional sources to be referred and inform editors on possible overlap or similarity with other articles or sources.

Evaluation process

Each manuscript submitted shall be subject to independent evaluation by at least one peer reviewer, the so called double blind review. The editors’ decision to publish, with or without amends or changes or to decline shall be based on peer reviewer’s evaluation. The editors retain their right to send manuscripts submitted to be evaluated by peer reviewers before taking any decisions with regard to acceptance or publication.

CONTRIBUTOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES

Criteria

Manuscripts (draft articles or scientific reports) submitted to Veritas et Justitia should be written as contributor’s original work (not the result of plagiarism) and contain accurate information and objectively analyzed.  Manuscripts should be verifiable and contain data which third parties may verify.  The use of fictional or inaccurate data/information in the manuscripts shall be regarded as violation of ethical publication conduct and unacceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism

Contributors/authors should guarantee and in that respect submit a statement letter of non-plagiarism.  In addition, contributors/authors are not allowed to publish a similar/like manuscript in more than one journal. Submitting a like or similar manuscript to more than one journal to be published shall be considered a violation of ethical publication conduct and not acceptable.

Errata in published articles

Should contributors/authors find significant errors or inaccuracy in the article submitted and to be published, then she/he should immediately notify the editorial/managing boards or the publisher of the errors found and cooperate with the editor in revising or withdrawing the article concerned.