Promoting Health, Protecting the Environment, Advancing Justice and Sustainability in Africa
The Africa Journal of Health and Environmental Law (AJHEL) recognises that generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly used in academic research, legal analysis, writing, data analysis and scholarly communication.
AJHEL supports the responsible, transparent and ethical use of generative AI while maintaining the principles of academic integrity, originality, human accountability, research ethics and scholarly independence.
This policy applies to authors, reviewers and editors.
The purpose of this policy is to:
For the purposes of this policy, generative AI refers to artificial-intelligence systems capable of producing or transforming content, including:
Examples include large language models, AI writing assistants, AI coding tools and AI image-generation systems.
Authors may use generative AI tools for legitimate research-support and editorial purposes.
Permitted uses may include:
AI may be used to:
AI may assist with translation between languages.
Authors remain responsible for verifying the accuracy of translated material, particularly where the translation concerns:
AI may be used to assist with:
Authors must independently verify any substantive information generated by AI.
AI may assist with:
Authors remain responsible for checking the correctness, reproducibility and validity of the resulting analysis.
AI may assist with:
Generative AI must not be used to fabricate, falsify or misrepresent scholarly work.
Authors must not use AI to:
Generative AI tools cannot assume authorship or responsibility for a scholarly article.
Authors remain fully responsible for the content they submit.
This includes responsibility for:
Use of an AI tool does not transfer responsibility for an error to the AI provider.
AI systems cannot be listed as an author or co-author of an AJHEL manuscript.
Authorship requires human accountability and substantive intellectual contribution.
Authors must therefore be human researchers who can take responsibility for the integrity of the work.
Authors must independently verify all references generated or suggested by AI.
AI systems may produce:
Authors are fully responsible for ensuring that every reference submitted to AJHEL is genuine, relevant and accurately cited.
Because AJHEL publishes legal scholarship, authors must exercise particular caution when using AI for legal research.
AI-generated legal information must be independently verified against authoritative sources.
Authors should verify:
AI-generated legal citations must never be accepted without verification.
For manuscripts involving health or medical research, AI-generated information must be independently verified against reliable scholarly, medical or official sources.
Authors must not use AI to invent:
Where patient or health information is involved, authors must also comply with applicable privacy, confidentiality and research-ethics requirements.
Authors must not use generative AI to fabricate or manipulate:
AI-generated environmental information must be verified against credible primary or authoritative sources.
AI-generated images, illustrations, figures or tables may only be used where their use is scientifically, ethically and legally appropriate.
Authors must disclose material AI-generated content where required.
AI-generated visual material must not:
Authors should disclose substantive use of generative AI in the preparation of a manuscript.
Routine spelling, grammar or formatting assistance normally does not require detailed disclosure unless the Journal requests it.
Where substantive AI assistance has been used, authors should include an appropriate disclosure statement.
Generative AI Disclosure: Generative artificial intelligence tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript for [describe purpose, e.g., language editing, preliminary organisation, coding or data-analysis assistance]. All AI-assisted content was critically reviewed and independently verified by the authors. The authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity and conclusions of the manuscript.
Authors should identify the general purpose of the AI use rather than treating AI as an author.
The use of AI does not diminish the responsibility of human authors.
Authors must be able to:
Authors must exercise caution when entering information into external AI systems.
Authors should not upload confidential or sensitive material, including:
into AI systems where doing so could compromise confidentiality, privacy or intellectual property.
Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts submitted for peer review.
Reviewers should not upload confidential manuscripts or unpublished research materials into generative AI systems where this could expose the material to unauthorised parties or compromise confidentiality.
Reviewers remain responsible for their own evaluations.
AI must not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly judgment.
Editors may use appropriate AI-assisted tools for limited administrative or editorial purposes where confidentiality and data protection can be maintained.
Editors remain responsible for:
AI must not determine acceptance or rejection of manuscripts independently.
AI-generated text does not automatically constitute plagiarism.
However, authors remain responsible for ensuring that AI-assisted content does not:
AJHEL may investigate suspected plagiarism regardless of whether AI was involved.
The use of AI does not excuse research misconduct.
If AI is used to facilitate:
AJHEL may take action under its Allegations of Misconduct Policy.
Possible actions include:
AJHEL recognises that AI-detection tools are imperfect and may produce false positives or false negatives.
An AI-detection score will not, by itself, be treated as conclusive evidence of misconduct.
Where concerns arise, the Editorial Board may consider:
AJHEL encourages authors to be transparent about substantive AI assistance.
The purpose of disclosure is not to prohibit responsible AI use but to ensure:
AJHEL expects AI-assisted research and writing to comply with the following principles:
Human Accountability
Human authors remain responsible for the final work.
Accuracy
AI-generated information must be independently verified.
Transparency
Substantive AI assistance should be appropriately disclosed.
Originality
AI must not be used to facilitate plagiarism.
Confidentiality
Unpublished or sensitive information must be protected.
Research Integrity
AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify research.
Legal and Ethical Compliance
AI use must comply with applicable legal, ethical and research requirements.
Failure to comply with this policy may result in editorial action.
Depending on the circumstances, AJHEL may:
The response will depend on the seriousness and nature of the violation.
AJHEL recognises that generative AI technology is developing rapidly.
This policy may therefore be periodically reviewed and updated to reflect:
Authors, reviewers and editors are expected to comply with the version of the policy applicable at the time of publication or review.
AJHEL does not prohibit responsible use of generative AI.
Instead, the Journal supports AI use that is:
Responsible • Transparent • Ethical • Verifiable • Human-Accountable
The fundamental principle is:
AI may assist scholarly work, but it cannot replace the researcher's responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity and ethical quality of the published research.
Africa Journal of Health and Environmental Law (AJHEL)
Published by Prime Crest Publishers
Promoting Health, Protecting the Environment, Advancing Justice and Sustainability in Africa
Africa Journal of Health and Environmental Law (AJHEL) | ISSN: XXXX-XXXX | © PrimeCrest Publisher
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