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class="breadcrumb"><a href="/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/">Home</a></p> </div> <div class="hero__title"> <a id="main-content"></a> <h1 id="page-title">COPE position statements</h1> </div> <div class="hero__bottom"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="page-main"> <div class="page-main__row"> <div class="page-main__col"> <main> <section id="content" class="region region-content"> <div id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div id="node-51121" class="node node-page "> <div class="sidebar sidebar--offset"> <div class="sidebar__body"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>The COPE Trustee Board and Council occasionally publishes position statements, which is intended to provide COPE鈥檚 formal position on a particular issue where guidance does not yet exist.</p> <h2>COPE advice to editors on geopolitical intrusions on editorial decisions (2022)</h2> <p>COPE considers that editorial decisions should not be affected by nationality, ethnicity, political beliefs, race, or religion of the authors. Read the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/news/cope-advice-editors-geopolitical-intrusions-editorial-decisions">geopolitical intrusions on editorial decisions</a> position statement.</p> <h2>The protection of vulnerable groups and individuals (2021)</h2> <p>The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) supports international ethical standards related to research and publication of research that relate to vulnerable groups and individuals. Read聽<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/protection-vulnerable-groups">The protection of vulnerable groups and individuals</a> position statement.</p> <h2>Censorship (2018)</h2> <p>COPE subscribes to and promotes the principles of academic freedom and editorial independence that underpin the pursuit of knowledge inherent in research and academic work. Read the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/censorship">Censorship</a> position statement.</p> <h2>Opinions on opinions (2018)</h2> <p>COPE鈥檚 role in addressing contentious issues within publication is based on our principles of neutrality and professionalism. Read the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/opinions">Opinions on opinions</a> position statement.</p> <h2>Inappropriate manipulation of peer review processes (2014)</h2> <p>This position statement was issued on behalf of COPE after consultation with a variety of publishers to underscore the seriousness with which we take inappropriate manipulation of peer review processes. Read the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/inappropriate-manipulation-peer-review-processes">Inappropriate manipulation of peer review processes</a> position statement.</p> <h2>Clarification of COPE advice to editors on geopolitical intrusions on editorial decisions (2013)</h2> <p>COPE discussed geopolitical intrusion on editorial decisions on two occasions in the past year and takes the position that decisions to edit and publish should not be determined by the policies of governments or other agencies outside of the journal itself. Read the COPE advice to editors on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/news/cope-advice-editors-geopolitical-intrusions-editorial-decisions">geopolitical intrusions on editorial decisions</a>.</p> <h2>Joint COPE/BMJ consensus statement on research misconduct published (2012)</h2> <p>The consensus statement relates to a high-level meeting on research misconduct organised by COPE and the BMJ. Read the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/uk-research-misconduct">Joint COPE/BMJ consensus statement on research misconduct published</a> position statement.</p> </div></div></div> </div> </div>   </div> </div> </div> </section> </main> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="footer"> <div class="footer__outer"> <div class="footer__row"> <div class="footer__col"> <div class="footer__menu"> <h2>Useful links</h2> <ul class="links menu-site-map"><li class="menu-4141 first"><a href="/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/become-member" title="">Become a member</a></li> <li class="menu-4140"><a href="/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/contact-us" title="">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="menu-4137"><a href="/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/events" title="">Events</a></li> <li class="menu-4139"><a href="/web/20220403040634/https://publicationethics.org/guidance" 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