; (D) to fully break away from the influence of illicit actors who leverage the control of territory and use violence to extort miners and push them into illicit arrangements; (E) to adopt and utilize environmentally safe and sustainable mining practices, including— (i) mercury-free gold refining and extracting technologies; and (ii) extractive techniques that do not result in— (I) forest clearance and water contamination; or (II) the release of dust or uncontrolled tailings containing toxic chemicals; (F) to pursue alternative livelihoods outside the mining sector; and (G) to fully access public social services in ASM-dependent communities; (12) to support and encourage socioeconomic development programs, law enforcement capacity-building programs, and support for relevant international initiatives, including by providing assistance to achieve such ends by implementing the Strategy; (13) to interrupt the illicit gold trade in Nicaragua, including through the use of United States punitive measures against the government led by President Daniel Ortega and Vice-President Rosario Murillo and their collaborators pursuant to Executive Order 14088 (relating to taking additional steps to address the national emergency with respect to the situation in Nicaragua), which was issued on October 24, 2022; (14) to assist local journalists with investigations of illicit mining, trafficking, and commercialization of gold and its supplies in the Western Hemisphere; and (15) to promote responsible sourcing and due diligence at all levels of gold supply chains. (c) Challenges assessed The Strategy shall include an assessment of the challenges posed by, and policy recommendations to address— (1) linkages between ASM sector production and trade, particularly relating to gold, to the activities of illicit actors, including linkages that help to finance or enrich such illicit actors or abet their activities