4 Compendium: High Level Review of United Nations Sanctions Ongoing and emerging challenges To better address threats, sanctions designations criteria should be expanded, thematic sanctions explored, and potential impacts of sanctions on humanitarian activities assessed, including pre-assessments and consultations with humanitarian actors. Emerging issues which require greater attention include the linkages between natural resources and armed conflict, the plight of women and children as victims, the need to sanction perpetrators, and the use of the internet and digital technologies to incite, recruit and finance violence and extremism.