IJEMR is committed to protecting the privacy, dignity, autonomy and confidentiality of all individuals described, studied or quoted in submitted and published research.

Personal data and sensitive information—including information obtained through a doctor–patient relationship, research participation, interviews, surveys, observations, photographs, recordings or professional services—must be handled with the highest levels of confidence, discretion and care.

1. Requirement for Informed Consent

Authors must obtain informed consent from participants where required by applicable law, institutional policy or research-ethics approval.

Consent must be voluntary, informed and obtained before collecting, using or publishing identifiable personal information. Participants must be given understandable information about:

• the purpose of the research;

• what participation involves;

• foreseeable risks and benefits;

• how their information will be used, stored and shared;

• whether information may be published;

• their right to decline or withdraw, where applicable; and

• relevant contact details for questions or complaints.

2. Publication of Identifiable Information

Authors must obtain explicit written consent before publishing identifiable information, including:

• names, initials, contact details or identification numbers;

• photographs, video, audio or recordings;

• medical, health, counselling or case information;

• direct quotations that could identify an individual;

• geographic, demographic or workplace details that make identification reasonably possible; or

• other personal or sensitive data.

Consent for participation in research is not automatically consent for publication. Where identifiable material is to be published, authors must obtain consent specifically for publication.

3. Confidentiality and Anonymisation

Authors must minimise the collection and publication of personal information. Identifying details must be removed or anonymised wherever possible.

Authors should not rely on anonymisation where an individual may still be identified through a combination of details, circumstances, quotations, images or publicly available information.

The journal may require authors to revise or remove details that create an unnecessary risk of identification or harm.

4. Children and Vulnerable Participants

Research involving children, vulnerable adults or individuals with reduced capacity requires additional safeguards.

Authors must obtain consent from a parent, guardian or legally authorised representative where required, and should seek the participant’s assent where appropriate.

Extra care must be taken where disclosure could expose an individual to stigma, discrimination, legal risk, financial harm, reputational harm or physical danger.

5. Ethics Approval

Where required, research involving human participants or personal data must have prior approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), research ethics committee or equivalent body.

Manuscripts should state:

• the name of the approving body;

• approval reference number, where available;

• how informed consent was obtained; and

• how privacy and confidentiality were protected.

Where ethical approval or consent was not required, authors must provide a clear explanation.

6. Consent Documentation

Authors must retain consent records securely and make them available to the Editor upon reasonable request. Consent forms must not be submitted for publication unless they have been properly redacted and disclosure is necessary.

The journal will not publish consent forms or confidential participant information.

7. Withdrawal of Consent

If a participant withdraws consent before publication, authors must notify the journal promptly. The journal will assess whether the material can be removed, anonymised or whether publication must be paused.

After publication, withdrawal requests will be considered carefully. Complete removal may not always be possible because of the permanent scholarly record, indexing, archiving and legal requirements. However, IJEMR will take reasonable steps to protect privacy and reduce harm.

8. Editorial Review

Editors may request evidence of ethics approval or consent where concerns arise. Failure to obtain required consent, or publication of confidential information without adequate authorisation, may result in rejection, correction, removal of material, retraction or notification to the relevant institution.

9. Contact

Questions or concerns about informed consent, confidentiality or identifiable information should be sent to:

Editorial Office
International Journal of Event Management Research
Email: [admin@ijemronline.org]