Diversity and Inclusion Policy

Our journal is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our operations, including editorial processes, authorship, peer review, and readership. This policy outlines our commitment to fostering an environment that values diverse perspectives, equitable opportunities, and respect for all individuals involved in the scholarly community.

Commitment to Diversity

  1. Editorial Team

    • We strive to ensure that our editorial team represents a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This diversity enhances the quality and breadth of the journal’s content and decision-making processes.
    • The appointment of editorial board members and reviewers is conducted with a focus on diversity to ensure a broad representation of expertise and viewpoints.

  2. Authorship

    • We encourage submissions from authors of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, and geographic location.
    • We actively seek to publish research that addresses diverse populations and explores issues of inequality and social justice.

  3. Peer Review

    • Our peer review process is designed to be fair and impartial. We ensure that reviewers are selected based on their expertise and are provided with clear guidance on evaluating manuscripts objectively.
    • We are committed to reducing biases in the review process by implementing single-blind or double-blind review mechanisms, as appropriate.

Inclusion in Research

  1. Research Topics

    • We encourage research that contributes to understanding and addressing health disparities and inequities.
    • We encourage research that includes diverse populations and considers varying cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors.

  2. Ethical Considerations

    • All research published in the journal must adhere to ethical guidelines that respect the rights and dignity of all research participants.
    • We require that studies involving human subjects provide clear statements on how diversity and inclusion were considered in the research design and implementation.
  3. Support for Authors
    • We offer support and resources to authors from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds to help them navigate the submission and publication process.
    • This support includes providing clear guidelines. The journal's Diamond Open Access model ensures that cutting-edge research is available to everyone without financial barriers for authors or readers.