Author guidelines

About the Journal

Aims and scope

The DICERE Revista de Derecho y Estudios Internacionales (ISSN: 3028-886X) is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that is part of the Faculty of Legal Sciences of the Universidad del Azuay. It is published biannually in the months of May and November in digital format. It will focus on receiving original research papers, which will be related to both the field of Law and International Studies. Articles may be written in Spanish or English, highlighting the following aspects of interest:

For the area of Law:

  • Legislation, legal reform, and public policy
  • Law and Social Criticism
  • Governance and Public Administration
  • Strategic Litigation
  • Law and Current Trends: Legal analysis of the adaptation of new institutions and realities to the Law, as a mechanism and agent of change
  • Criminal Law: Dogmatics and General Theory of Crime
  • Environment, Nature Rights and Human Rights

For the area of International Studies:

  • International Relations
  • Interculturality, Coexistence, Well-being and Mobility
  • Foreign Trade, International Economy, Business and Internationalization
  • International Cooperation and Sustainable Development
  • Global Policy
  • Problems of international policy
  • International Security
  • Democratization
  • Contemporary global politics
  • Perspectives on the theory and practice of human rights

Frecuency

DICERE Journal is published biannually, each issue covers the periods of november-april and may-october.

The journal's call for papers is open and permanent, so authors can send their manuscripts at any time. Submissions must follow the guidelines described in this Guide for Authors.

Publication Charges (APCs)

DICERE Journal was created and is sponsored by the Faculty of Legal Sciences of the Universidad del Azuay. Thanks to this sponsorship, there are no processing or publication charges (APCs) for authors.

Open Access (OA)

DICERE is committed to promoting the free and open dissemination of scientific knowledge. For this reason, DICERE adopts an Open Access (OA) policy, offering immediate access to its content based on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports greater global knowledge sharing.

Authors who publish articles with the DICERE Revista de Derecho y Estudios Internacionales accept the following terms:

  1. The intellectual property of the articles published in DICERE Revista de Derecho y Estudios Internacionales belongs to the author(s). The authors bear full responsibility for the content of the articles, and does not necessarily reflect the position of DICERE as publisher or of the Universidad del Azuay.
  2. The authors grant free of charge the copyrights of: transformation, publication, reproduction, distribution, and public communication to the Universidad del Azuay (UDA) from Cuenca-Ecuador, which is the legal figure on behalf of DICERE Revista de Derecho y Estudios Internacionales.
  3. The authors grant the DICERE Revista de Derecho y Estudios Internacionales the right of first publication licensed simultaneously under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
  4. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 allows to share the work with an acknowledgement of authorship of the work and the first publication, without commercial purposes.
  5. This policy allows authors to deposit post-print versions of their work in institutional repositories, subject-specific repositories, or on their personal websites, under the conditions specified above. In all cases of self-archiving, authors must provide a full bibliographic citation to the published article in DICERE Revista de Derecho y Estudios Internacionales, including the article's Digital Object Identifier (DOI). Self-archived versions of articles from this journal may not be used for commercial purposes.
  6. The published contents in DICERE Revista de Derecho y Estudios Internacionales are protected under Ecuadorian and international copyrights.

License notice

Articles are published under the Open Access (OA) license. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). In short, this license allows users to share and adapt the content under the following conditions:

  • Attribution: The original creator of the material, in this particular case, must be clearly acknowledged as the author through appropriate citations and references.
  • Non-commercial: You may not use the material for commercial purposes. This means that you may not sell the content, or use it to generate direct profit.
  • Share Alike: If some of the material is used to generate new contributions, it is necessary that this new material is under the same license. This ensures that others can continue to modify and share a work in the same way.


Ethics and Policies

Peer review process

DICERE Journal is based on double-blind peer review, this rigorous method is followed to assess the quality and originality of manuscripts submitted to academic journals. In this process, both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other, ensuring impartiality and minimizing potential bias. Manuscripts undergo thorough evaluation by subject matter experts who are outside the Journal, who critically assess the research methodology, data analysis, and overall contribution to the field. Reviewers provide constructive feedback, suggest improvements, and highlight potential weaknesses. The editorial team carefully considers these reviews and may request revisions or additional information from the authors. This iterative process aims to maintain high standards of academic excellence and ensure the publication of high-quality research.

The Reviewers

Manuscript review based on the double-blind policy will be conducted exclusively through the Journal's OJS platform. To achieve it, a corresponding author (or an editor) will upload the article without authorship information. Subsequently, an editor will send reviewers an invitation through the platform to their email to provide the proposed review dates and access to the manuscript, so they may finally accept or decline the review.

The following 30-second video at this link shows how a reviewer can access the platform, view the manuscript, and perform the evaluation of the manuscript.

Reviewers will be experts in the manuscript's subject matter, preferably international experts from other countries. After a detailed review of the manuscript, they will complete an evaluation form (Likert scale questions) inside the platform and provide their verdict (accept, modify, or reject). In addition to the verdict, the editor will consider a minimum score of 40 out of 50 for the manuscript to be published. Both authors and reviewers can view the evaluation form template by clicking the following button: Evaluation Form.

Authorship

According to the authorship guidelines, all authors must demonstrate substantial contributions in at least one of the following phases of the research: design, execution, or data analysis. Participation in the drafting or critical revision of the manuscript is also required. Approval of the final version is an essential requirement for an author. In addition, a corresponding author will be designated to act as a liaison with the journal. In the context of authorship, all authors assume joint responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of the work presented.

Changes in authorship

The journal's policy regarding changes in authorship is strict and seeks to maintain the integrity of the publication process. Once a manuscript has been submitted, changes to the author list will not be considered. Therefore, it is essential that authors give careful thought to the inclusion and order of authors in the final author list at initial submission.

All authors must be listed on the manuscript and their corresponding data must be entered into the submission system. In exceptional cases, any modifications, whether addition, deletion or rearrangement of names, must be made only before the manuscript is accepted and always with the approval of the journal editor. Requests for changes in authorship must be made by the author, who must justify the request to the editor and provide written confirmation from all authors involved, including those being added or removed, to ensure their consent.

Once the manuscript has been accepted, changes in authorship will only be considered in very exceptional and specific cases. While these requests are being evaluated, the publication of the manuscript may be temporarily suspended.

Anti-plagiarism policy

In order to guarantee the originality of all published works, DICERE Journal uses the tool Turnitin to detect any evidence of plagiarism, including direct plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and inappropriate paraphrasing. Any match greater than 20% will be considered plagiarism, and manuscripts that exceed this threshold will be carefully evaluated by the editorial team. Authors must cite all sources used and clearly differentiate their own work from that of others. If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be rejected and the author will be notified. In addition, additional disciplinary measures may be taken, such as a ban on future submissions to the journal.

Using generative AI

Authors must declare the use of generative artificial intelligence in scientific writing at the time of submission of the manuscript. This refers only to the writing process, and not to the use of AI tools to analyze or draw conclusions from the data in the research process.

Generative artificial intelligence and AI-assisted technologies may be used during writing only for the purpose of improving the clarity and quality of the text. Their use should always be under the supervision of the author, who must review and edit the generated results. It is important to note that AI may produce content that may contain errors, be incomplete, or be biased. Therefore, authors are fully responsible for the final content of their work.

Artificial intelligence and associated tools should not be considered authors or co-authors, since authorship entails responsibilities that can only be assumed by humans.

The use of generative artificial intelligence in writing should be mentioned at the end of the manuscript at the time of initial submission. This mention will be included in a new section before the reference list. An example of how this statement could be structured is:

Title of the new section: Statement on the use of generative artificial intelligence in writing.
Disclosure: In preparing this manuscript, the author(s) used [TOOL/SERVICE NAME] for [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and adjusted the content as deemed necessary, thus assuming full responsibility for the content of the published article.

This statement does not apply to basic tools, such as those used to check grammar, spelling, or references.

Finally, it is important to note that, to safeguard the rights of authors and the confidentiality of their research, this journal does not currently allow the use of generative artificial intelligence or similar technologies by reviewers or editors.

Use of AI in arts

Authors may use Generative AI tools only as assistants in the writing process. This means that such tools may help generate written content, improve the clarity and coherence of the text, or provide suggestions for the structure of the article. However, the responsibility for the final content lies entirely with the authors.

DICERE Journal does not permit the use of Generative AI tools or AI-assisted tools to create or alter images in submitted manuscripts. This includes all visual elements that accompany the text, such as figures, graphs, and illustrations.

Use of inclusive language

Inclusive language is a linguistic and social movement that seeks to promote equality and equity in the use of language. It seeks to avoid discrimination against historically marginalized social groups.

To do this, it is advisable to minimize the use of descriptions related to personal attributes unless they are really relevant to the content. To achieve gender-neutral writing, it is suggested to use plural nouns, such as "health professionals" or "participants." Likewise, it is preferable to avoid pronouns such as "he" or "she," as well as combinations of both.

Furthermore, it is essential not to make assumptions about readers' beliefs or experiences. Writing should be free of bias, stereotypes and references to dominant cultures, thus ensuring a fair and respectful approach.

These guidelines provide a framework for the use of inclusive language, but are not definitive. They are intended to help identify appropriate language to reflect diversity and inclusion in the scientific field.

Preprints

DICERE Journal accepts manuscripts that have been published as preprints on preprint servers or repositories. Authors must declare the use of a preprint when submitting their work, providing the corresponding link. This practice promotes transparency and rapid dissemination of research, and will not affect the peer review process or the quality of the publication.

Code of Conduct (COPE)

DICERE Journal adheres to the guidelines and standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure integrity and quality in the publication of academic articles. COPE provides an ethical framework that guides the editors and authors in the management of publication-related issues, such as original research, plagiarism, handling conflicts of interest, and data disclosure. By following these guidelines, the journal promotes transparency, responsibility, and respect in research and publication, ensuring a fair and rigorous process for all involved.

The implementation of COPE regulations also implies that DICERE Journal is committed to addressing any ethical violations that may arise during the publication process. This includes the review and correction of articles when problems are identified, as well as the possibility of retracting articles in cases of misconduct or falsification of data. By adopting these practices, the journal seeks to maintain a high standard of ethics in publication, thus benefiting the academic community and society in general.

Erratas & Retractions

The journal's editorial integrity policy establishes a rigorous protocol for managing amendments to the academic record, grounded in the international guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Errata (Corrigenda): the first instance, the publication of Errata is provided for to rectify unintended errors, such as typographical slips, authorship omissions, or inaccuracies in statistical data, that do not compromise the validity of the study's general conclusions. In cases where the integrity of the research is under suspicion but a final resolution is not yet available, the editorial team may issue an Expression of Concern to alert the academic community.

Retractions: however, upon the discovery of fatal methodological flaws, data manipulation, proven plagiarism, or serious ethical violations that invalidate the results, the journal will proceed with the formal Retraction of the article. This process involves publishing an explanatory note permanently linked to the original work, which will remain in the digital archive with a "Retracted" watermark to preserve historical transparency; An Editor-in-Chief will communicate to the corresponding databases and indexes to prevent the spread of unreliable information.

Digital preservation

DICERE Journal is committed to the long-term preservation of its contents. In the first instance, the contents of the journal are safeguarded in a specialized technological infrastructure through incremental backups, this process allows its recovery in emergency cases.

In addition to the above, the journal adheres to international standards of digital preservation and collaborates with PKP Preservation Network and LOCKS (check Manifest) which allows to guarantee the integrity and authenticity of the information over time.

Writing and Formats

Article types

DICERE only accepts the following types of articles: Research Articles, Review Articles, and Reflection Articles; the description for each type is presented below:

Research Articles (original): These are unpublished works that contribute new findings to the field through the rigorous application of scientific methods. The emphasis here lies on evidence; therefore, the author must transparently detail the process of data collection and analysis, whether through field studies, statistical analysis of court rulings, or quantitative legal sociology. The manuscript must demonstrate a direct connection between the data obtained and the conclusions presented, allowing other researchers to replicate or verify the study. These articles must follow the IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion), but it is highly recommended to add a section related to the State of the Art of the subject matter, either as "Literature Review" or "Background."

Review Articles: A review or summary of the state of the art that compiles the most relevant information on a specific topic. This includes: bibliometric studies, systematic literature reviews, and meta-analyses on current topics related to Law and International Studies. Adapting to the latest version of the PRISMA Statement is recommended.

Reflection Articles: This section welcomes contributions that, based on previous research, focus on the analytical interpretation and dialectical questioning of current norms, principles, or theories. Unlike "Research articles", a report of new empirical data is not required here, but rather an original and deep argumentative construction that invites intellectual debate. The value of these articles lies in the author's ability to confront doctrinal positions or conduct philosophical critiques of the subject. An impeccable command of bibliographic sources and a clear thesis that provides a transformative or enlightening vision on topics that, although known, need to be rethought under a new light are expected.

Manuscript Style and Structure

For the initial submission of a manuscript, DICERE does not require an author to complete a template document with predefined formats. However, the base document must have the following styles: Times New Roman as the font type, font size 11, 1.5 line spacing, and justified text. In addition, the following characteristics must be included.

The document must have the following structure:

Note: Author and affiliation data will be removed by an internal editor prior to being sent for double-blind peer review.

Title

The article title should be clear and direct, offering a general overview of the content. It is advised to avoid the use of abbreviations and formulas, unless they are wided-known terms such as "UN"; it is recommended that it does not exceed 15 words.

Authorship and affiliations

The full names of each author, starting with the first name followed by the surname. The order in which they are presented must correspond to the one used in the submission system. It is vital to carefully check the spelling of each name to avoid errors and misunderstandings. Affiliations must be placed next to the authors' names, indicating the institution(s) where the research was conducted. For each affiliation, a lowercase letter must be used as a superscript, placed immediately after the corresponding author's name. Additionally, the email address of each author must be provided. Finally, authors should add their ORCID, allowing their publications to be linked to their authorship through the Crossref system.

It is essential to designate a corresponding author, who will be responsible for managing all communications related to the article throughout the review and publication process, and for any subsequent inquiries. This author must be available to answer questions regarding the results, data, methodology, and materials.

Abstract

A brief and clear abstract is required, with a maximum of 200 words, stating the research objective, key findings, and main conclusions. It must be standalone, as it is often presented separately from the article. Avoid references, but if necessary, cite the author and the year.

Keywords

Three to six keywords must be included, separated by commas and including only well-known abbreviations in the scientific field.

Article sections

Divide your article into clearly defined and numbered sections. Number subsections as 1.1, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, etc. Use this numbering format when making cross-references within your text, avoiding vague references such as "the text."

Tables and Figures

Following APA 7th edition standards, this journal requires all tables and figures to be properly titled and numbered. Figures and tables must be positioned after the paragraph where they were first mentioned. This requirement not only ensures uniformity and professionalism in the publications but also facilitates peer review and the indexing of articles in academic databases, thus benefiting all our authors.

Footnotes

Use footnotes sparingly. If you decide to include them, ensure they are numbered consecutively. You may use tools that automatically integrate notes into the text or indicate their position and present them in a separate section at the end.

Acknowledgements

Dedicate a section to recognize those who supported you during your research, such as language assistance, writing, or proofreading. Acknowledgements should be in an independent section, just before the reference list. Do not include them on the title page or in footnotes.

Author contributions: CRediT

For articles with multiple authors, this section is proposed using the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT) to detail the specific contributions of each co-author. When the article has a single author, a detailed breakdown is generally not required, as it is assumed the author performed all roles. Authors are encouraged to detail the contributions of each co-author using the CRediT categories:

  • Conceptualization
  • Data curation
  • Formal analysis
  • Investigation
  • Methodology
  • Resources
  • Software
  • Validation
  • Visualization
  • Supervision
  • Funding acquisition
  • Project administration
  • Writing – Original Draft
  • Writing – Review and Editing

Funding sources

Authors must declare any source of funding that has supported the research or the preparation of the article. If the sponsors had a role in the study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, or the writing of the report, this must be mentioned.

References

DICERE journal uses the APA 7th edition style to ensure the quality and consistency of its publications. By using the APA style, we facilitate the indexing of articles in the main academic databases, which increases their visibility and their impact on the scientific community. This journal encourage authors to use a reference management software such as Mendeley, Zotero, or similar programs.

In-text citations

Direct citations: Include author's surname, year, and page (Surname, year, p. X).
Indirect citations: Only requires surname and year (Surname, year).
Works with multiple authors: For two authors, use both surnames (Surname & Surname, year); for three or more, only the first surname followed by “et al.” (Surname et al., year).

Reference list

Order alphabetically by the first author's surname and use a hanging indent (0.5 inches). Format for references:
Books: Surname, A. A. (Year). Title in italics. Publisher.
Articles: Surname, A. A. & Surname, B. B. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, volume(number), pp-pp. Electronic sources: Add the DOI or URL.

Legal references

Cite laws or legal documents following local standards; if relevant, add information about the source.

Appendix

Use the following format for appendices:

  • Identify each appendix with letters (A, B, etc.).
  • Assign numbering to formulas and equations in the appendices with formats such as Eq. (A.1), Eq. (A.2), etc.

Final Note: Please ensure you follow these guidelines to ensure your manuscript meets the standards of DICERE Journal, promoting clear and effective scientific communication in the field of Law and International Studies.

Author principles

DICERE is aligned with COPE principles; therefore, an abbreviated version of the principles an author must comply with before submitting is presented:

  • Each author may publish in DICERE a maximum of two consecutive times, after which there will be an abstinence period of 3 consecutive issues before being able to publish in this journal again.
  • Avoid self-citation: DICERE accepts a maximum of one self-citation, provided it is the result of previous work. The use of multiple self-citations is not considered a good practice.
  • Avoid self-plagiarism: Reusing large portions of a previously published work without proper citation is considered an ethical violation.
  • Fragmented publication: Dividing a study into multiple articles to increase the number of publications is also not an accepted practice.



Submission and checklist

If you would like to submit a manuscript and verify its compliance, you can do so through the following Submission link.

Please note that the evaluation can take up to 15 weeks from submission to acceptance.