1. Introduction
The Revista Facultad de Jurisprudencia (RFJ) of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE) promotes high standards of ethics in research and academic publishing, in accordance with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and Open Science policies. This document outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, and editors to ensure quality and transparency at all stages of the editorial process.

2. Research Integrity
RFJ is committed to honesty and transparency throughout all phases of research and publication. Authors must ensure the accuracy of data and results, avoiding any form of falsification or manipulation. Ethical concerns will be addressed according to COPE guidelines and may be escalated to the Editorial Board if necessary.

3. Authors' Responsibilities
3.1. Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must ensure that their works are original, unpublished, and free of plagiarism or self-plagiarism. Manuscripts will be checked using plagiarism detection software (e.g., TURNITIN). Duplicate or redundant articles will not be accepted unless they offer significant added value, with proper citation of the original source.

3.2. Exclusive Submission
Authors commit not to submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously. Each article must be unpublished and exclusive to RFJ until the review process is complete.

3.3. References and Sources
Authors must provide complete and accurate references. Copyrighted materials must be properly cited according to APA (7th edition) guidelines.

3.4. Conflicts of Interest and Funding
Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest and specify any financial support received for their research.

3.5. Error Correction
If an author identifies a significant error in a published article, they must immediately notify the editors for correction or retraction.

4. Reviewers' Responsibilities
4.1. Contribution to Editorial Decision
Reviewers must provide critical, objective, and constructive feedback to assist editors in making editorial decisions.

4.2. Confidentiality and Objectivity
Assigned manuscripts must be treated as confidential and not discussed without permission. Reviews must be impartial.

4.3. Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers must inform editors of any conflicts of interest and must not use information obtained during the review for personal gain.

5. Editors' Responsibilities
5.1. Selection and Publication Decision
Editors will choose qualified reviewers and make decisions based solely on scientific merit.

5.2. Confidentiality and Data Protection
Editors must ensure the confidentiality of manuscripts and personal data of authors and reviewers.

6. Review and Publication Process
6.1. Double-Blind Peer Review
RFJ uses a double-blind peer review system to ensure impartiality.

6.2. Retractions and Corrections
RFJ follows COPE guidelines for managing corrections and retractions in case of ethical misconduct.