Editorial Policy

The Wah Academia Journal of International Law and Policy (WAJILP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and academic quality. The journal follows internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing and adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Editorial Principles

WAJILP operates on the principles of:

  • Academic integrity and quality
  • Transparency in editorial decisions
  • Independence from external influence
  • Fair and unbiased peer review

Editorial decisions are based solely on the scholarly merit, originality, and relevance of submitted manuscripts, regardless of the authors’ background or affiliation.

Editorial Independence

The editorial board exercises full independence in making publication decisions. The publisher does not interfere in:

  • Manuscript evaluation
  • Peer review outcomes
  • Acceptance or rejection decisions

Editors are responsible for safeguarding the academic record and journal integrity.

Peer Review Policy

WAJILP follows a double-blind peer review system, ensuring impartiality and confidentiality.

  • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts
  • Reviewer identities remain confidential
  • Editorial decisions are based on reviewer reports and editorial judgment

Peer review must remain confidential, and reviewers must not disclose manuscript details.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors play a central role in maintaining quality and ethical standards. They must:

  • Evaluate manuscripts based on academic merit only
  • Ensure a fair, unbiased, and timely review process
  • Maintain confidentiality of submissions
  • Avoid conflicts of interest
  • Issue corrections or retractions when necessary

Editors are accountable for everything published in the journal and must maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

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Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts
  • Declare any conflicts of interest
  • Avoid using unpublished material for personal benefit

Reviewers must produce unbiased and evidence-based assessments to support editorial decisions.

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Responsibilities of Authors (Editorial Perspective)

From an editorial standpoint, authors must:

  • Submit original, unpublished work
  • Follow ethical research and publication practices
  • Disclose conflicts of interest
  • Respond to reviewer comments professionally

Confidentiality

All manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Editors and reviewers must not:

  • Share manuscripts with unauthorized individuals
  • Use unpublished data for personal research

Confidentiality is a fundamental principle of ethical peer review. (BioMed Central)

Conflict of Interest Policy

Editors, reviewers, and authors must disclose any conflicts of interest.

  • Editors must recuse themselves from handling conflicted submissions
  • Reviewers must decline reviews where bias may exist

Transparent disclosure ensures fairness in the editorial process.

Handling Misconduct

WAJILP follows COPE-recommended procedures in cases of:

  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Duplicate publication
  • Citation manipulation

Editors will investigate allegations and may:

  • Reject or retract articles
  • Notify institutions
  • Apply sanctions where necessary

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Corrections and Retractions

The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy of the scholarly record:

  • Minor errors → Correction (Erratum)
  • Major ethical violations → Retraction
  • Uncertain cases → Expression of Concern

Editors must act promptly when issues are identified.

Transparency and Best Practice

WAJILP aligns with:

  • Directory of Open Access Journals transparency principles
  • International best practices in scholarly publishing

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Continuous Editorial Improvement

The journal regularly updates its editorial policies in line with evolving international standards to ensure:

  • High-quality publications
  • Ethical compliance
  • Global academic credibility