Editorial Policies

South American Publishing is committed to safeguarding the integrity of academic content and the reliability of the publishing process. The publisher aligns its editorial practices with internationally recognized standards of publication ethics, including the principles promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These guidelines provide the foundation for responsible editorial conduct and support the consistent application of good publishing practices across all publications.

Maintaining research integrity is a central priority. All submitted works are expected to reflect honesty in research design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Authors are required to conduct their research with due diligence and accuracy, ensuring that methodologies and results are presented transparently and responsibly. Respect for research participants, subjects, and the broader scholarly community is essential, as is accountability for the content produced and published. When concerns arise regarding research practices that may not meet these standards, authors, reviewers, and editors share a responsibility to address them appropriately.

Any individual who believes that a published or submitted work does not comply with these principles may communicate their concerns to the editorial office by contacting [email protected]. All reports are handled confidentially and reviewed in accordance with COPE guidance to ensure fair and consistent resolution.

South American Publishing operates with full editorial independence. Editorial decisions are made autonomously and are based exclusively on scholarly merit, relevance to the scope of the publication, originality, and contribution to the field. The publisher does not allow commercial interests, institutional pressures, or external influence to compromise editorial judgment. Commitment to diversity and inclusion is integral to the editorial process, and manuscripts are evaluated without discrimination based on personal characteristics, identity, institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, beliefs, or political perspectives.

Peer review is a fundamental mechanism for ensuring the quality and credibility of published research. The publisher supports rigorous, fair, and effective peer review systems and provides appropriate infrastructure and guidance to facilitate the process. All manuscripts undergoing peer review are treated as confidential, and the integrity of the double-blind review model is strictly preserved throughout the evaluation process.

Authorship must accurately reflect intellectual contributions to the work. Authors are expected to have made meaningful contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research, to have participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript, and to have approved the final version for publication. All authors share responsibility for the content of the work. The corresponding author assumes primary responsibility for communication with the editorial office, coordination of revisions, confirmation of co-author approval, and responses to post-publication inquiries.

Institutional affiliations listed in manuscripts should accurately represent the organizations where the research was conducted, supported, or formally approved. Affiliations must not be misleading or used to imply institutional endorsement where none exists.

South American Publishing maintains a strict policy against plagiarism and redundant publication. Plagiarism is understood as the use of ideas, text, data, or other materials from external sources without appropriate acknowledgment. Manuscripts suspected of plagiarism are rejected during the initial editorial assessment. If plagiarism or unethical duplication is identified after publication, corrective actions such as corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be implemented in line with COPE recommendations. Authors must not submit the same manuscript to multiple publications simultaneously, and any overlap with previously published material must be transparently disclosed and properly cited.

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with applicable ethical and legal standards. Authors are responsible for obtaining approval from relevant ethics committees and securing informed consent when required. The protection of participant privacy is essential. Clinical research must adhere to internationally recognized standards, including the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and clinical trials must be registered in an appropriate public registry prior to submission.

Transparency regarding conflicts of interest and sources of funding is required. Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any relationships or circumstances that could influence objectivity or integrity. When no conflicts exist, this should be explicitly stated. Where conflicts are present, full disclosure must be provided using recognized reporting standards. Financial support for research must also be clearly acknowledged.

Editors may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record. Minor errors may be addressed through corrigenda or errata, while serious issues such as data falsification, fabrication, or substantial plagiarism may warrant retraction. Decisions regarding post-publication actions follow COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Authors are expected to present images and visual materials accurately. Image modifications are permitted only when they do not alter or misrepresent the original data. Any form of manipulation intended to falsify or fabricate results is unacceptable and will be addressed according to established ethical guidelines.

In cases of suspected research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate citation practices, the publisher collaborates with relevant institutions and stakeholders to investigate the matter. Proven misconduct results in appropriate corrective measures, including retraction where necessary, in accordance with international ethical standards.

To support accessibility across diverse cultural and regional contexts, the publisher may issue adapted versions of certain works when appropriate, provided that such adaptations do not compromise the accuracy, integrity, or scholarly value of the original content.

South American Publishing adheres to recognized principles of transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing. Authors are encouraged to uphold these standards throughout the research and publication lifecycle. Accurate records of data, codes, and supporting materials should be maintained and made available when appropriate to facilitate verification and reproducibility of research findings.

Promotional and marketing communications are conducted responsibly and must not interfere with editorial independence or compromise the academic record. Communication strategies are designed to enhance visibility and accessibility while respecting the integrity of scholarly content.

Editors, reviewers, and authors each have defined responsibilities within the publication process. Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based on scholarly merit and ensuring that peer review is conducted fairly, impartially, and confidentially. Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and respectful evaluations, to maintain confidentiality, and to disclose any conflicts of interest. Authors are responsible for the originality, accuracy, and ethical compliance of their work, including transparent disclosure of AI-assisted tools used solely for language or readability support. Authors must cooperate promptly in the correction of errors identified before or after publication to ensure the ongoing reliability of the scholarly record.

Peer review constitutes a central mechanism for the selection and validation of manuscripts that meet the expected standards of quality, relevance, and scholarly impact within the scientific and professional communities addressed by this publication. Through this process, the publisher seeks to ensure that all accepted works make a meaningful contribution to their respective fields of research.

Manuscripts submitted for consideration are evaluated by external reviewers who are recognized specialists in the relevant subject area. Reviewers act independently from one another and do not have access to information regarding the authorship of the work. The evaluation follows a double-blind peer review model, in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the process in order to preserve objectivity and impartiality.

The role of external reviewers is to support the Editorial Committee by assessing the originality, scientific quality, methodological soundness, and relevance of the manuscript, as well as its compliance with the formal requirements established for publication. Reviewers are expected to examine both the content and structure of the manuscript with a critical, thorough, and constructive approach, providing reasoned recommendations that contribute to the improvement of the work.

The reviewer pool consists of an international and continuously expanding network of academics and professionals with doctoral qualifications or recognized expertise in their areas of research. Selection of reviewers prioritizes individuals with demonstrated scholarly experience, including prior publications in internationally indexed journals, when applicable.

All materials submitted for evaluation are treated as strictly confidential. Reviewers must not disclose, share, or use any information contained in the manuscript for personal purposes or for the benefit of third parties. Should a reviewer consider it necessary to consult additional specialists to clarify specific aspects of the manuscript, this must be communicated to and authorized by the editorial office.

Once a manuscript is submitted, the journal or proceedings acknowledges receipt by email and assigns a unique reference number for tracking purposes. The Editor-in-Chief or an appointed editor then conducts an initial editorial assessment to determine whether the submission fits the scope of the publication, meets basic quality standards, and complies with formal requirements.

If a manuscript does not meet these criteria, authors are informed of an early rejection, usually within approximately 72 hours. Submissions may be declined at this stage if they fall outside the scope of the publication, are incomplete, lack sufficient clarity or methodological description, or show evidence of plagiarism.

Manuscripts that pass the preliminary assessment are forwarded for external double-blind peer review. Authors typically receive an initial editorial decision based on reviewer reports within an average period of 30 to 45 days.

When revisions are requested, authors receive anonymized comments from reviewers and editors, along with guidance for improving the manuscript. Revised versions, accompanied by a detailed response to reviewers’ comments, must be submitted within 15 days. Final publication decisions are made by the editor after considering the reviewers’ recommendations and the adequacy of the revisions.

Accepted manuscripts are published online within approximately 15 days following final acceptance. All published articles are assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and become immediately citable. The editorial team is responsible for the subsequent dissemination of published content and for managing indexing or registration processes where applicable.

Communication between reviewers and the editorial team is conducted through the journal or proceedings’ online platform, ensuring traceability and proper documentation of each stage of the review process. Reviewers have up to seven days to accept or decline an invitation to review, which includes the manuscript title, abstract, and the expected review timeline. Access to the full manuscript and evaluation forms is granted only after the invitation has been accepted.

Reviewers are expected to submit their reports and recommendations within a period of four weeks from acceptance of the invitation. Reports may be provided using the designated evaluation form or, alternatively, through an attached document containing detailed comments. Final recommendations must be consistent with the qualitative assessment and, where applicable, with any quantitative scoring provided.

In cases where there is a substantial divergence between reviewer recommendations, the editor may request an additional independent evaluation from a third reviewer. If a second round of peer review is deemed necessary, it is generally conducted by the same reviewers who participated in the initial evaluation. The final decision regarding acceptance or rejection rests with the editor, based on the totality of reviewer feedback and editorial judgment.

South American Publishing is committed to supporting the unrestricted circulation of academic and scientific knowledge. Through its Open Access policy, the publisher ensures that all content released across its journals, books, and conference proceedings is made freely available to readers worldwide, without financial, technical, or legal barriers.

This policy reflects the publisher’s commitment to broadening access to research, increasing the visibility and reach of scholarly work, and enhancing its academic and social impact. By promoting open dissemination, South American Publishing seeks to contribute to scientific advancement and to the development of society through equitable access to knowledge.

Open access refers to a publishing model in which scholarly content may be read, downloaded, copied, distributed, printed, searched, or linked in full by any user, for any lawful purpose. All materials published by South American Publishing are released under Creative Commons licenses, which enable reuse of the content while ensuring that proper credit is given to the original authors.

Unless otherwise specified, authors publish their work under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This license allows others to share, reproduce, adapt, transform, and build upon the material, including for commercial purposes, provided that appropriate attribution is given and the original source of publication is acknowledged. These permissions cannot be revoked as long as the terms of the license are respected. Users must credit the author, include a reference to the license, and clearly indicate whether any changes have been made, without implying endorsement by the licensor. No additional legal or technological restrictions may be applied that would limit the freedoms granted by the license.

Authors retain their copyright after publication and are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically, including through personal websites, institutional repositories, and recognized open access platforms. Depositing published works in repositories contributes to wider dissemination, earlier visibility, and increased citation of research outputs.

Open access publishing offers multiple benefits, including greater visibility and impact for authors, increased citation potential, and improved access to research for academic communities, professionals, policymakers, and the general public. These benefits are particularly significant for researchers and readers in regions with limited access to subscription-based resources, and they support international collaboration and knowledge exchange.

To safeguard the long-term availability of published content, South American Publishing maintains a digital preservation strategy designed to ensure continued access over time. Published works are preserved through established digital archiving systems and preservation initiatives, which protect content against technological changes and unforeseen disruptions and ensure its availability for future generations of researchers and students.

The publisher is committed to transparent, responsible, and ethical publishing practices, aligned with internationally recognized standards such as those promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). South American Publishing aims to support the global dissemination of research while strengthening the presence and recognition of scholarship produced in South America and other regions of the Global South.

Some publishing services may involve Article Processing Charges (APCs) to cover the costs associated with peer review coordination, editorial management, production, and dissemination. At the same time, South American Publishing seeks to implement fair and flexible pricing models and may offer fee reductions or waivers, particularly for researchers from low- and middle-income countries or in cases where financial constraints would otherwise limit participation in open access publishing.

South American Publishing recognizes the growing influence of artificial intelligence technologies, including large language models (LLMs) and generative systems, on academic research and scholarly publishing. This policy establishes a framework for the ethical, transparent, and responsible use of AI tools throughout the editorial and publication process. It is informed by guidance from international organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), as well as by practices adopted by leading academic publishers.

The use of AI-based tools, including language models such as ChatGPT, is not prohibited. However, these technologies are considered support tools and do not meet the criteria for authorship as defined by international editorial standards. The use of AI does not diminish or replace the author’s responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and accountability of the submitted work. Authors remain fully responsible for all content, regardless of whether AI tools were used during manuscript preparation.

When AI tools are employed by authors to assist with writing, data analysis, or the generation of tables, figures, or other content, such use must be clearly and transparently disclosed within the manuscript. Disclosure should indicate the name of the tool, its version or model where applicable, the purpose for which it was used, and the stage of the research or writing process in which it was applied. This information should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the Methods or Acknowledgments.

AI tools must not be credited as authors under any circumstances. The use of AI technologies to fabricate data, manipulate results, generate false references, or otherwise misrepresent research findings is strictly prohibited and may be treated as research misconduct. In such cases, editorial actions may include rejection prior to publication or retraction of published material, in accordance with established ethical guidelines.

Reviewers are required to preserve the confidentiality of the peer review process at all times. Manuscript content must not be uploaded to public or external AI systems that store or reuse user data, as this would constitute a breach of confidentiality. If reviewers choose to use AI tools to assist in drafting their review reports, this must be disclosed to the editors, and no identifiable or sensitive manuscript content may be shared with such tools. Reviewers remain fully accountable for the accuracy, fairness, and appropriateness of any AI-assisted content included in their evaluations.

Editors are responsible for ensuring that authors and reviewers are informed of this policy and that its principles are consistently applied. Any use of AI tools by the editorial team for communication, workflow support, or editorial management must be documented, transparent, and must not interfere with independent editorial judgment. AI technologies must not be used as substitutes for editorial decision-making. Editorial confidentiality, integrity, and human oversight must be preserved at all stages of the process.

The editorial office may employ appropriate tools to identify potential AI-generated content, plagiarism, or manipulation, where necessary, as part of its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record. Any concerns related to the inappropriate use of AI will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In situations where questions, disputes, or uncertainties arise regarding the acceptable use of AI technologies, South American Publishing will follow the guidance and recommendations issued by COPE and WAME, as well as other relevant international standards. This policy is intended to evolve in response to developments in AI technologies and scholarly publishing practices and may be updated accordingly.

South American Publishing is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. When issues are identified in published content, the publisher follows clear and transparent procedures to address errors, concerns, or complaints in a responsible and timely manner.

Corrections may be issued when a published work contains errors that do not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions of the article. These may include typographical mistakes, minor factual inaccuracies, or errors introduced during the production process. When appropriate, a correction notice, erratum, or corrigendum will be published and linked to the original article, clearly indicating the nature of the amendment while preserving the original version of record.

Retractions are reserved for cases in which a publication is found to contain serious flaws that undermine the validity, integrity, or reliability of the work. Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to, substantial errors in data or analysis, plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication or falsification of data, unethical research practices, or undisclosed conflicts of interest that significantly affect the interpretation of the work. Retraction notices are published transparently, remain permanently available, and clearly state the reasons for the retraction, without defamatory language.

In situations where concerns have been raised but a full investigation is still ongoing, or when available evidence is inconclusive, the publisher may issue an Expression of Concern. This notice serves to inform readers of potential issues while the matter is being reviewed. Expressions of Concern may be updated, replaced by a correction, or lead to retraction depending on the outcome of the investigation.

South American Publishing provides a clear mechanism for submitting complaints related to editorial decisions, publication ethics, peer review conduct, or post-publication issues. Complaints may be submitted to the editorial office and are handled confidentially and impartially. Each complaint is assessed on its merits and reviewed by the appropriate editorial authority. Where necessary, additional information may be requested from the parties involved.

The publisher seeks to resolve complaints in a fair, transparent, and timely manner. Editorial decisions related to corrections, retractions, or complaints are guided by internationally recognized best practices and ethical standards, including recommendations issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to cooperate fully during any investigation or review process.

South American Publishing reserves the right to take appropriate editorial action to protect the integrity of its publications and the trust of the academic community. This policy is intended to ensure accountability while preserving due process and respect for all parties involved.

South American Publishing is committed to safeguarding the independence of editorial decision-making from administrative, financial, and commercial considerations. Editorial autonomy is a fundamental principle of the publisher’s governance model and applies to all journals, books, and scholarly outputs under its responsibility.

Editorial decisions regarding the acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts are made exclusively by editors and editorial boards on the basis of academic merit, originality, relevance, and adherence to editorial standards. These decisions are not influenced by publication fees, institutional affiliations, sponsorships, advertising, or any other external interests.

The management and administrative functions of the publisher operate separately from editorial evaluation processes. While administrative teams may provide logistical, technical, or production support, they do not participate in or interfere with editorial judgments or peer review outcomes.

Members of the editorial boards are expected to act independently and to declare any potential conflicts of interest. When such conflicts arise, appropriate measures are taken to ensure impartial decision-making, including reassignment of editorial responsibility where necessary.

South American Publishing maintains this separation between editorial governance and publishing management in order to preserve academic freedom, protect the integrity of the scholarly record, and uphold trust within the research community.

1. Data Controller
The data controller of personal data collected through this website is South American Publishing (hereinafter, “the Company”). Contact email: [email protected].

2. Data We Collect
We may collect and process the following personal data: identification data (such as name, email address, and organization), usage data related to interaction with the website, and information voluntarily provided through contact forms or communications. We do not collect sensitive personal data or perform automated decision-making with legal effects.

3. Purpose of Data Processing
Personal data is processed for the purposes of managing inquiries and contact requests, providing requested services, improving user experience on the website, and complying with applicable legal obligations.

4. Legal Basis for Processing
Data processing may be based on user consent, the performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures, compliance with legal obligations, and the legitimate interest of improving our services and website functionality.

5. Third-Party Integrations (including LinkedIn)
This website may integrate with third-party services such as LinkedIn for content publication, social media management, and editorial process automation. These services may collect and process data in accordance with their own privacy policies. Users are encouraged to review the privacy policies of such third-party providers.

6. Data Retention
Personal data will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law.

7. User Rights
Users have the right to access their personal data, request correction of inaccurate data, request deletion of their data, restrict or object to processing, and request data portability. To exercise these rights, users may contact [email protected].

8. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or unlawful processing.

9. International Data Transfers
Where third-party services are used outside the user’s country, appropriate safeguards are implemented to ensure an adequate level of data protection in accordance with applicable legal standards.

10. Cookies and Similar Technologies
This website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience and improve website performance. Users can configure their browser settings to refuse cookies if they prefer.

11. Policy Updates
The Company reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be published on this page.

12. Contact
For any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact [email protected].

If this information does not fully address your concerns or if you have any specific questions or doubts, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].