PLAGIARISM POLICY

Journal of Gender and Millennium Development Studies (JGMDS) enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and self-plagiarism to ensure compliance with international standards of academic integrity. Prior to the formal peer-review process, the editorial team screens every submitted manuscript using industry-standard detection tools, specifically Turnitin. Any manuscript containing unacknowledged copied text, data, or ideas will be subject to immediate editorial action.

Similarity Index Thresholds and Editorial Actions
The initial evaluation of a manuscript is partially guided by the overall similarity index detected by Turnitin. JGMDS classifies these thresholds and their corresponding actions as follows:

  • Similarity Index of 20% or Below: The manuscript is acceptable regarding originality. Minor citation enhancements or formatting improvements may still be requested prior to final acceptance.
  • Similarity Index Between 21% and 40%: The manuscript will be returned to the authors for comprehensive revision. Authors must ensure all overlapping sections are thoroughly paraphrased and properly cited. The manuscript will only be reconsidered after a satisfactory revision is resubmitted.
  • Similarity Index Above 40%: The manuscript will be rejected outright without the option for resubmission due to excessive overlap and poor paraphrasing practices.

Classification of Plagiarism Severity and Sanctions
IIndependent of the automated percentage index, the Editorial Board evaluates the nature and intent of the overlapping content. If intentional plagiarism is verified, the following multi-tiered sanctions will be strictly applied:

  • Minor Plagiarism: Occurs when short, isolated sections of text are copied without proper citation, without misappropriating core original data or ideas. Action: Authors receive a formal warning and a mandatory request to revise the content with appropriate citations.
  • Intermediate Plagiarism: Involves the uncredited use of a substantial portion of text or literature from another paper without appropriate citation. Action: The manuscript is immediately rejected, and all listed authors are prohibited from submitting any new manuscripts to JGMDS for a period of one (1) year.
  • Severe Plagiarism: Characterized by the deliberate, unauthorized reproduction of significant original ideas, core results, or extensive data fabrication from another publication. Action: The manuscript is immediately rejected, and all listed authors are banned from submitting any future work to JGMDS for a period of five (5) years.

Post-Publication Discovery
The Editorial Board reserves the right to withdraw acceptance or retract a published article in accordance with the journal’s Retraction Policy if a severe violation of academic integrity or plagiarism is discovered post-publication. Authors seeking clarification regarding citation guidelines are encouraged to contact the editorial office prior to submission.