Complaints and Appeals Policy

1. Complaints Policy

At Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity and transparency. We welcome and take seriously all complaints related to the journal's editorial processes, communications, and ethical standards.

Scope of complaints may include:

  • Delays in editorial processing
  • Miscommunication or lack of communication
  • Concerns regarding editorial conduct
  • Breaches of publication ethics or COPE guidelines

How to submit a complaint:

Complaints should be submitted via email to: office@hefjournal.org
Please provide:

  • A clear description of the complaint
  • Name and contact information
  • Any relevant supporting documentation

Handling procedure:

  • All complaints will be acknowledged within three working days.
  • Complaints will be reviewed by the Executive Editor or Managing Editor, and a formal response will be provided within 14 working days where possible.
  • If necessary, the issue may be escalated to the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board for independent review.

2. Appeals Policy

Authors who believe that an editorial decision (e.g., rejection of a manuscript) was made unfairly or without appropriate justification have the right to appeal.

Grounds for appeal include:

  • Evidence that a decision was based on incorrect or incomplete information
  • Evidence of bias or conflict of interest
  • Oversight of important information or data in the manuscript

How to submit an appeal:

Appeals must be submitted in writing to: office@hefjournal.org
Please include:

  • Manuscript ID and title
  • A detailed explanation of the reasons for the appeal
  • Any additional evidence or documentation

Appeal handling procedure:

  • Appeals will be acknowledged within five working days.
  • The Editor-in-Chief will coordinate an independent review, possibly involving additional members of the Editorial Board or external reviewers.
  • A final decision on the appeal will be made within 3–4 weeks, and this decision will be considered final.

Please note: The appeal process is not a second round of peer review. Appeals must be based on valid academic or ethical grounds.