Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to GBP Publications must ensure that their work represents original research, presented with accuracy, clarity, and academic rigor. Plagiarism in any form—whether verbatim copying, inappropriate paraphrasing, or misappropriation of ideas or data—constitutes a grave violation of our ethical policies and will result in immediate rejection or retraction. Authors must appropriately cite all sources, acknowledge all contributions, and ensure that any borrowed content is used with the proper permissions. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data or sources is strictly prohibited.

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All authors listed on a submission must have made a significant intellectual contribution to the work, and all those who contributed materially must be duly recognized. Ghost authorship, guest authorship, and honorary authorship are unacceptable practices. Authors are further expected to disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that might constitute a real or perceived conflict of interest. Manuscripts should not be simultaneously submitted to multiple publications, nor should previously published material be resubmitted without transparent justification and permission. In the event that an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, it is their duty to inform GBP Publications immediately so that an appropriate correction, clarification, or retraction can be issued.

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Editorial Responsibilities

Editors at GBP Publications serve not only as custodians of academic quality but also as stewards of ethical publication. They are entrusted with making impartial, evidence-based decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection, guided exclusively by the intellectual merit of the work and its relevance to the aims and scope of the publication. Editors must avoid any personal or professional conflicts of interest that may compromise their judgment. They are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all submitted material, for protecting the identity of authors and reviewers in blind review processes, and for managing manuscripts with discretion and integrity throughout the editorial workflow.

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Editors must actively guard against research and publication misconduct. Should allegations of plagiarism, duplicate submission, unethical research practices, or authorship disputes arise, editors are required to initiate a formal and unbiased investigation in consultation with GBP’s ethics committee. Any decisions resulting in the correction or withdrawal of a publication will be clearly documented, transparently communicated, and implemented with due diligence to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a vital role in upholding the quality and credibility of GBP Publications. They are expected to provide evaluations that are scholarly, objective, and grounded in expertise, contributing both to the editorial decision-making process and the development of the manuscript. Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and may not share, reproduce, or use them for personal advantage. Any potential conflicts of interest—be they professional, financial, or personal—must be declared to the editor prior to accepting a review assignment.

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If a reviewer suspects ethical misconduct, including plagiarism, data manipulation, or improper citation practices, they are encouraged to report such concerns directly to the editor, who will follow up in accordance with our ethics procedures. Reviewers are also urged to be respectful in their critique, offering comments that are constructive and intended to advance the scholarly work, rather than demean or disparage the author.

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Publisher Responsibilities

As the steward of the entire publication process, GBP Publications affirms its responsibility to support editors, authors, and reviewers in adhering to ethical standards. We provide training, guidance, and a formal infrastructure to identify, investigate, and address misconduct. GBP maintains a permanent, accessible archive of published content and is committed to ensuring that all corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern are handled promptly and transparently, with clear linkage to the original material and a full explanation of the rationale for the editorial action.

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We maintain robust digital and procedural safeguards to detect plagiarism, redundant publication, and manipulation of authorship. In cases of substantiated misconduct, GBP reserves the right to notify the author’s institution, funding body, or relevant academic authorities, and to impose sanctions that may include withdrawal of submissions, publication bans, or reporting to external ethics committees. All allegations are handled in strict confidence, with procedural fairness, and in alignment with COPE guidelines.

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Research Ethics and Consent

Where applicable, all research involving human subjects, animals, or sensitive data must comply with recognized ethical standards, including institutional review board (IRB) approval, informed consent, and data protection regulations such as the GDPR. Authors must provide evidence of ethical clearance where required and must disclose any risks to participants and how these were mitigated. Failure to comply with these ethical requirements constitutes grounds for rejection or retraction.

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Complaints and Appeals

GBP Publications provides a formal mechanism for authors, reviewers, or third parties to lodge complaints or appeals concerning editorial decisions, publication ethics, or professional conduct. All such submissions will be handled promptly and impartially by our Ethics Committee, with decisions communicated transparently and, where appropriate, in consultation with independent advisors.