This Human and Animal Rights Policy applies to all journals published by the International Academic Research Consortium (IARCON). All IARCON journals adhere to this policy to ensure the protection of human participants and animals involved in research, while maintaining the highest standards of research ethics and integrity. This policy is based on the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and internationally accepted ethical guidelines.

Research Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants must be conducted in accordance with recognized international ethical principles, including the Declaration of Helsinki and all applicable national and institutional regulations. Authors must ensure that the rights, dignity, privacy, safety, and well-being of participants are protected throughout the research process.

Where applicable, manuscripts must include:

• Approval from an appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Research Ethics Committee (REC) before the study commenced.
• The name of the approving ethics committee and approval/reference number, where available.
• A statement confirming that informed consent was obtained from all participants or their legally authorized representatives.
• Appropriate measures to protect participant confidentiality and personal data.

Research that fails to meet accepted ethical standards may be rejected or withdrawn from publication.

Research Involving Animals

Research involving animals must be conducted in accordance with internationally recognized standards for the ethical care and humane use of laboratory and research animals. Authors must ensure that animal suffering is minimized and that the number of animals used is scientifically justified.

Manuscripts involving animals should include:

• Approval from the relevant Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent ethics committee, where required.
• Confirmation that all applicable institutional, national, and international regulations governing animal research were followed.
• A description of measures taken to ensure animal welfare and humane treatment throughout the study.

Studies involving unnecessary animal suffering or unethical practices will not be considered for publication.

Editorial Assessment

Editors may request additional ethical documentation at any stage of the editorial or peer review process. If concerns arise regarding the ethical conduct of research involving humans or animals, the journal will investigate the matter in accordance with COPE guidance and may seek clarification from the authors or their institutions.

Commitment to Ethical Research

IARCON and all its journals are committed to promoting ethical research involving humans and animals. Editors, reviewers, and authors are expected to comply with this policy and with the ethical recommendations issued by COPE, ICMJE, and other internationally recognized regulatory and professional bodies. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or other editorial actions as appropriate.