Confidentiality Policy

At ACW Press, we are committed to ensuring the confidentiality of all submissions and maintaining the privacy of authors, reviewers, and editors throughout the publication process. This policy outlines our approach to handling confidential information and sets out the expectations for all parties involved.

Confidentiality of Manuscripts

1. Submission Confidentiality

• All manuscripts submitted to ACW Press journals are treated as confidential documents. Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone outside the review and publication process.

• Manuscripts should not be shared or discussed with third parties without explicit permission from the Editor-in-Chief or the corresponding author.

2. Reviewer Confidentiality

• Reviewers must treat the manuscripts they review as confidential. They should not share, discuss, or disclose any information about the manuscript outside the review process.

• Reviewers should not retain copies of manuscripts after submitting their review and should delete any copies if requested by the editorial office.

3. Double-Blind Review Confidentiality

• For journals that operate a double-blind review process, the authors’ and reviewers’ identities are kept confidential. Reviewers should not attempt to uncover the authors' identities, and vice versa.

Confidentiality of Review Process

1. Anonymous Review

• ACW Press ensures the anonymity of reviewers unless they choose to sign their reports. This anonymity encourages honest and unbiased feedback.

• Authors should not attempt to contact or influence reviewers directly.

2. Editor and Staff Confidentiality

• Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of all communications with reviewers and authors. They should not disclose reviewers' identities to authors or other reviewers without explicit consent.

• Editorial decisions and reviewer comments are confidential and should only be shared with the authors and relevant editorial board members.

Handling of Confidential Data

1. Data Protection

• ACW Press complies with relevant data protection regulations to safeguard the personal information of authors, reviewers, and editors. Personal data will only be used to manage the journal and the publication process.

• All personal data is stored securely and is accessible only to authorized personnel involved in the publication process.

2. Ethical Considerations

• Any sensitive or confidential information disclosed in the manuscript (e.g., patient data, proprietary information) must be handled with the highest ethical standards and in compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines.

• Authors must obtain appropriate permissions to use and publish sensitive or confidential data.

Breaches of Confidentiality

1. Reporting Breaches

• Any suspected breaches of confidentiality should be reported immediately to the editorial office. ACW Press will investigate all reported breaches thoroughly and take appropriate action.

2. Consequences of Breaches

• Breaches of confidentiality by reviewers, authors, editors, or staff may result in disciplinary actions, including exclusion from the review and publication process and notification to the relevant institutions or employers.

3. Maintaining Trust

• ACW Press values the trust authors, reviewers, and editors place in us. We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the publication process to uphold the standards of scholarly communication.