Privacy Statement
Introduction
The International Journal of Peace, Governance and Social Change (IJPGSC) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all individuals who interact with the journal. This Privacy Statement explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, shared, and protected when authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and other users access the journal's website or use its online submission and publishing services.
By registering with the journal, submitting a manuscript, participating in the peer review process, or using the journal's website, users acknowledge that they have read and understood this Privacy Statement and consent to the collection and processing of their personal information in accordance with this policy and applicable data protection laws.
Information We Collect
The journal collects only the personal information necessary for the operation of its editorial and publishing activities. This information may include your name, institutional affiliation, email address, mailing address, telephone number, ORCID iD, country of residence, professional biography, and other information that you voluntarily provide when registering an account, submitting a manuscript, or participating in the peer review process.
Technical information such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, operating system, device information, and website usage data may also be collected automatically to improve the security, functionality, and performance of the journal's website.
How We Use Your Information
Personal information is collected and processed solely for purposes related to the management and publication of scholarly content. The journal uses this information to create and manage user accounts, process manuscript submissions, coordinate peer review, communicate editorial decisions, publish accepted articles, maintain accurate publication records, provide technical support, improve journal services, and comply with legal or regulatory obligations.
The journal may also use contact information to notify users about important updates relating to submitted manuscripts, published articles, journal policies, or editorial activities. Users may occasionally receive announcements related to journal operations, but the journal does not use personal information for unrelated marketing purposes.
Confidentiality of the Peer Review Process
The confidentiality of the peer review process is fundamental to the integrity of scholarly publishing. Information relating to submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial discussions, and publication decisions is treated as confidential and is accessible only to individuals directly involved in the editorial process.
Reviewer identities are kept confidential within the journal's double-blind peer review system unless disclosure is required by law or expressly agreed upon by all parties involved.
Sharing of Personal Information
The journal respects the privacy of its users and does not sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties. Personal information may be shared only when necessary to facilitate the publication process, such as with editors, reviewers, copyeditors, production staff, indexing services, digital preservation services, or publishing partners who require access to perform legitimate publishing functions.
The journal may also disclose personal information where required by law, legal process, or regulatory authorities.
Data Security
The journal implements appropriate administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction. Although reasonable security measures are maintained, no method of electronic transmission or online storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. The journal continually reviews and improves its security practices to minimize risks to user information.
Data Retention
Personal information is retained only for as long as necessary to support the journal's editorial, publication, indexing, archiving, and legal obligations. Published author information forms part of the permanent scholarly record and may remain publicly available indefinitely to ensure the integrity and traceability of academic publications.
Information relating to manuscript submissions, peer review, and editorial decisions may also be retained for administrative, legal, or archival purposes.
Cookies and Website Analytics
The journal's website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve user experience, remember user preferences, maintain secure login sessions, and collect anonymous statistical information about website usage. Cookies do not generally identify individual users personally unless users voluntarily provide such information through the website.
Users may configure their web browsers to refuse or delete cookies; however, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features of the journal's website.
User Rights
Subject to applicable data protection laws, users may have the right to request access to their personal information, request correction of inaccurate information, request deletion of personal data where appropriate, restrict certain processing activities, or object to the processing of their personal information. Users may also request updates to their account information at any time through their user profile or by contacting the Editorial Office.
Requests relating to personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable legal requirements and the journal's operational responsibilities.
Third-Party Services
The journal may use trusted third-party services to support scholarly publishing, including manuscript management systems, plagiarism detection software, DOI registration agencies, indexing services, digital preservation platforms, and website hosting providers. These service providers receive only the information necessary to perform their designated functions and are expected to maintain appropriate standards of confidentiality and data security.
The journal is not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites that may be linked from its website. Users are encouraged to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites they visit.
Children's Privacy
The journal's services are intended for researchers, academics, professionals, and other adults engaged in scholarly publishing. The journal does not knowingly collect personal information from children. If personal information relating to a minor is inadvertently collected, appropriate steps will be taken to remove such information as soon as reasonably practicable.
Changes to This Privacy Statement
The journal reserves the right to amend this Privacy Statement at any time to reflect changes in legal requirements, publishing practices, technological developments, or operational needs. Any updates will be published on the journal's website, and the revised version will become effective immediately upon publication. Users are encouraged to review this Privacy Statement periodically.
Contact Information
Questions regarding this Privacy Statement or the handling of personal information should be directed to the Editorial Office of the International Journal of Peace, Governance and Social Change using the official contact details provided on the journal's website.
Acceptance of This Privacy Statement
By registering with the journal, submitting a manuscript, participating in peer review, or using the journal's website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms of this Privacy Statement. The journal remains committed to protecting personal information and maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and security of all data entrusted to it.
