; (E) to adopt and utilize environmentally safe and sustainable mining practices, including— (i) mercury-free gold refining 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; and (13) 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; (2) linkages between illicit or grey market trade, and markets in gold and other metals or minerals and legal trade and commerce in such commodities, notably with respect to activities that abet the entry of such commodities into legal commerce, including— (A) illicit cross-border trafficking, including with respect to goods, persons and illegal narcotics; (B) money-laundering; (C) the financing of illicit actors or their activities; and (D) the extralegal entry into the United States of— (i) metals or minerals, whether of legal foreign origin or not; and (ii) the proceeds of such metals or minerals; (3) linkages between the illicit mining, trafficking, and commercialization of gold, diamonds, and precious metals and stones, and the financial and political activities of the regime of Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela