Human and Animal Rights Policy

Wah Academia Journal of Health and Nutrition (WAJHN)

The Wah Academia Journal of Health and Nutrition is committed to safeguarding the rights, dignity, safety, and welfare of human participants and animals involved in research. This policy operates as an integral part of the journal’s Statement of Ethics and applies to all manuscripts submitted for consideration. https://wajhn.com/index.php/journal/statement-of-ethics

  1. Ethical Foundations

This policy is developed and implemented in alignment with internationally recognized ethical standards, including:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – Core Practices and ethical oversight guidance

https://publicationethics.org/core-practices

  • World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) – Editorial responsibility and research ethics recommendations

https://wame.org

  • Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association) – Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects

https://www.wma.net/what-we-do/medical-ethics/declaration-of-helsinki/

  1. Research Involving Human Participants

Manuscripts reporting research involving human participants must demonstrate full compliance with ethical principles protecting human rights and welfare.

Authors are required to explicitly state that:

  • The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.
  • Ethical approval was obtained from a recognized institutional ethics committee or review board prior to commencing the study.
  • Informed consent was obtained from all participants or their legally authorized representatives.
  • Participant privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity were appropriately protected.

The manuscript must identify the approving ethics committee and include the approval reference number where applicable.

Failure to provide adequate ethical justification or approval may result in rejection.

  1. Vulnerable Populations

Research involving vulnerable populations (including children, cognitively impaired individuals, or socially disadvantaged groups) must include additional safeguards. Authors must clearly describe how participants’ rights, autonomy, and welfare were protected.

  1. Research Involving Animals

WAJHN requires that all research involving animals adheres to internationally accepted principles of humane treatment and ethical care.

Authors must confirm that:

  • The study complied with relevant institutional, national, and international guidelines for animal care and use.
  • Ethical approval was obtained from an appropriate institutional animal ethics committee.
  • Measures were taken to minimize pain, suffering, distress, and harm to animals.

The journal reserves the right to reject submissions where animal welfare considerations are insufficiently addressed.

  1. Ethical Oversight and Transparency

In line with COPE Core Practices on Ethical Oversight, the journal may request additional documentation related to ethical approval, informed consent, or animal welfare where necessary.

COPE ethical oversight guidance:

https://publicationethics.org/ethical-oversight

  1. Editorial and Peer Review Responsibility

Editors and reviewers are responsible for evaluating whether submitted manuscripts comply with this Human and Animal Rights Policy. Any concerns regarding ethical conduct are handled confidentially and in accordance with COPE procedures.

WAME editorial responsibility guidance:

https://wame.org/editorial-responsibility

  1. Non-Compliance and Misconduct

Failure to comply with human or animal research ethics may constitute publication misconduct. Suspected violations are investigated following COPE flowcharts and recommendations, and may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or notification of relevant institutions.

COPE guidance on handling misconduct:

https://publicationethics.org/guidance

  1. Relationship to Journal Ethics Framework

This Human and Animal Rights Policy should be read in conjunction with the journal’s Statement of Ethics, Editorial Policy, and Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement. All policies collectively form WAJHN’s unified ethical framework.

Attribution

The ethical standards referenced in this policy are the intellectual property of their respective organizations. WAJHN acknowledges and credits COPE, WAME, the World Medical Association, for their publicly available ethical guidance.